Man Utd duo 'spoke about Zinedine Zidane with team-mates' as Erik ten Hag fights for job

Raphael Varane and Casemiro are said to have yearned for Zinedine Zidane’s leadership while together at Manchester United. Current boss Erik ten Hag is under pressure again after another stuttering start to their Premier League and European campaigns.

United’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa sent them into the international break having recorded their worst start to a league season since 1989. Their Europa League campaign has also began with disappointing draws against Porto and FC Twente.

Ten Hag’s future looked in doubt when Sir Jim Ratcliffe assembled the club’s top brass for a meeting in London last Tuesday, but the United hierarchy opted to keep on the former Ajax manager. Considering reports from last season, United’s midfield general Casemiro may not have been too pleased with this.

The Athletic reported last season how Varane and Brazilian Casemiro were dissatisfied with the positional and physical demands Ten Hag was placing on them. The pair, who won numerous major titles with Real Madrid, reportedly told United team-mates they much preferred Zidane’s more hands-off approach.

When the duo expressed their concerns to the staff, they received a rather blunt reminder that they were now playing in the Premier League, which is much tougher than La Liga. Varane eventually left at the end of his contract this summer, while Casemiro remained at Old Trafford, despite being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Casemiro has featured in the starting XI four times within the opening seven Premier League games but hasn’t made his mark with any goals or assists. As United continue to languish in 14th, the pressure is mounting.

United have only scored five Premier League goals – only relegation-battlers Southampton have found the net less. While Ten Hag admits his side are not scoring enough goals, he was surprisingly pleased after their bore draw.

He told Sky Sports: “We created loads of chances in our seven games but we have to step up. We have to take into consideration Hojlund is returning, he’s still coming up to full fitness.

“But others are stepping up. I was impressed from Rashford, also Garnacho is so good, and Antony at the end. We know in this moment we have a lack of goals.

“In that perspective it’s not a good start, we have to step up. That’s an area we have to improve. But we have four clean sheets. That’s good because we have to defend properly.”

United host Brentford on Saturday and then travel to Fenerbahce next Thursday – where they’ll come up against old manager Jose Mourinho – in their next two matches.