KEY POINTS

  • Edinson Cavani and Raphael Varane have returned to first-team training
  • Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick will not play Cavani and Varane against Young Boys
  • The German tactician is hoping to give all players as much playing time as possible

Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick is hoping to have two notable players in his squad for the rest of the season.

The Red Devils are hoping to continue where they left off when they face Young Boys in their UEFA Champions League final group stage match.

Rangnick is still getting to know more about his players but is already certain that veterans Edinson Cavani and Raphael Varane will be key figures in his squad.

The pair has been out of action for more than a month now due to injuries—Cavani with a tendon discomfort and Varane with a hamstring problem.

Fortunately, both legendary players are now back and have already made their return to first-team training per Rangnick.

According to the new Red Devils manager, Cavani and Varane will still need more time to be fully fit and will not join the lineup against Young Boys.

Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane of Manchester United celebrates at full-time following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on August 29, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

"They both cannot play tomorrow but they were part of the training session today,” Rangnick revealed. “Edi [Cavani] even yesterday, Rapha [Varane] it was the first time he was on the pitch with the team. If everything goes well I expect them both back in full training next week so from Monday they will be participating in all training sessions.”

Rangnick went on to admit that he wants Cavani and Varane, whom he referred to as “top players,” to be involved in the club’s most important games and if possible, for the rest of the current campaign.

"They're both top players,” the German coach reckoned. “Of course we would be happy to have them on board as soon as possible but, especially with Rapha and his injury record in the past, we need to make sure that we will have him until the end of the season, so it is also about sustainability and not only getting him fit as soon as possible."

"It would be great to have both players available as soon as possible, but obviously for the rest of the season."

Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani of Manchester United warming up during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Atalanta and Manchester United at Stadio di Bergamo on November 2, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy. Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Even during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time, the challenge in Manchester United has been the players’ playing time management.

Under Rangnick, the entire Red Devils squad will be assessed thoroughly and will be given “as much game-time as possible.”

“I have to get to know the players first in the next couple of weeks in order to finally assess them,” Rangnick explained in the pre-match presser. “Right now, I am more than happy to have them all on board and I will try to give them as much game-time as possible.”

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