Since Erik ten Hag's appointment as Manchester United manager, one marked improvement in the squad has been how the team defends.
Part of this is due to how Ten Hag has got the team to defend as a unit and react to attacks in a much more structured fashion, but some of the team's success has to be attributed to the defensive partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
Martinez was signed in the summer from Ajax in the summer and has quickly become a fan favourite for his quality but also his never say die attitude. Varane on the other hand has seemingly overcome the majority of the injury issues that plagued him during his first season and has slotted in alongside the Argentinian.
READ MORE: United play Everton in behind-closed-doors friendly
One of the key reasons for their success is their unexpected chemistry. Both players look like they've been playing with each other for years and have an understanding of each others' games that would come with it.
When Varane suffered an injury that he believed was going to see him ruled out of the World Cup, it was Martinez who comforted him. It is an invaluable connection. So, Ten Hag will be hoping that the World Cup final doesn't throw a spanner in the works.
France and Argentina meet in the final of the competition on Sunday and as fans know these scenarios can get incredibly heated. Varane is likely to start for France whereas Martinez is expected to be on the bench unless Lionel Scaloni changes his formation to a back-three.
There will be a loser and they will come back disappointed. Usually after these sorts of tournaments, players would have a month or so to mentally recuperate before returning for pre-season; this year players are being thrown right back into the mixer with United's first fixture coming against Burnley on the 21st December.
It is unlikely that Martinez and Varane will play in that game, but the Premier League resumes again for United on December 27 with an away trip to Wolves.
Hopefully, by the time that game comes around, Varane and Martinez are both available and also ready to play together because if United want a top-four finish at the end of the season, this period of fixtures will be as crucial as ever.
READ NEXT:
