Raphael Varane has conceded just two goals in 495 minutes of football this season

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Manchester United welcomed Raphael Varane back to the starting line-up on Thursday night and ended the match with another clean sheet.

The Frenchman was outstanding once again in central defence, renewing his impressive pairing with Lisandro Martinez.

United controlled the game against Sheriff Tiraspol, winning 2-0, with a dominant defence providing the platform for the victory.

The result continued Varane’s remarkable record in a Manchester United shirt so far in the 2022/23 season.

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Varane has conceded just two goals

Raphael Varane has conceded just two goals in the 495 minutes he has been in action this season so far.

The two goals conceded were Liverpool and Arsenal’s consolation goals in Manchester United’s victories against both teams.

Last season United conceded seven goals in the corresponding fixtures at home to Liverpool and Arsenal, so even these two goals conceded is positive progress.

Varane has elsewhere helped United to clean sheets against Southampton, Leicester City and now Sheriff Tiraspol. The team’s previous shutout had come back in February.

More worrying is what has come when Varane has not been in the starting line-up. United have lost all three games.

Part of the key to Varane’s success has been finding him a partner who complements him, like he had at Real Madrid with Sergio Ramos.

New signing Lisandro Martinez plays the more front-foot aggressive defensive role, with Varane a calm and composed presence alongside him; they work together really well.

Last season we saw how Varane’s partnership with Harry Maguire failed to gel, and Martinez also had early struggles playing alongside the England centre-back.

This has left the club captain as an outsider, although he will get more of a chance to stake his claim when regular rotation kicks in during October due to a busier schedule.

Victor Lindelof is merely a back-up at this stage, but he could have a big part to play at the start of 2023, as the only of United’s four centre-backs who is not going to the World Cup.

For now it is very clear Varane is the rock in Manchester United’s defence who the team must revolve around. His record this season demands it.