Manchester United has been crying out for a centre-back partnership in the ilk of legendary duo Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for the last eight years.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering duo left the Red Devils at the end of the club’s first season without the iconic Scotsman at the helm, which resulted in David Moyes getting sacked and Ryan Giggs being placed in caretaker charge.
Before calling time on their playing careers, Ferdinand spent a season with Queens Park Rangers and United’s former Serbian warrior spent 18 months with Italian giants Inter Milan.
Ever since the pair departed the Theatre of Dreams, several centre-backs have been tasked with being heir to their respected throne.
But despite millions of pounds being splashed on centre-halves, no partnership looked up to carrying the mantle the pair left behind.
It was hoped that Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire could lead United back to the glory days, but the world’s most expensive defender finds himself out of favour under Erik ten Hag and may have to consider moving on if he wants to play regular first team football.
Manchester United finally has what they have been craving for 8 years
After kicking off his Manchester United tenure with back-to-back defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, Ten Hag decided to make a massive call with his backline.
Ahead of facing fierce rivals Liverpool, the former Ajax boss opted to bring Varane into the side, in place of Maguire, to partner Lisandro Martinez.
Manchester United has won six of the eight games the Argentine and Frenchman have started together, including wins against Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Five of those eight games have resulted in David de Gea picking up a clean sheet.
The only blemish on the duo’s record so far was the 6-3 humiliation we suffered at Manchester City.
But the World Cup winner was off the pitch when Erling Haaland headed home from a corner, and it was clear that the former Real Madrid man was struggling with the ankle injury he had sustained, when blocking a Phil Foden, after he allowed the Norwegian superstar to ghost in-behind him at the back post.
United’s number 19 was replaced when we were trailing 3-0, and after coming off the bench to play a crucial role in our win at Goodison Park, the 29-year-old came back into the starting line-up to replace Victor Lindelof in Sunday’s goalless draw against Newcastle United.
Similar to Vidic and Ferdinand, Martinez and Varane’s games very much compliment one and other.
The Argentine, like Vidic, likes to be the aggressor and relishes the physical duels while Varane, like Ferdinand, possesses the speed to cover his partner and very rarely looks flustered.
The understanding and partnership between the pair, as well as De Gea, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw, looks to be growing stronger with every passing game.
And after thwarting two of Europe’s best marksmen in Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane, the confidence is likely to be sky high.
If Varane and Martinez can stay fit and available, then Manchester United finally have a defensive spine in place which De Gea hasn’t had in front of him since Ferdinand and Vidic.
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