Louis van Gaal would doubtless disagree and he has compelling evidence, but Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are the best centre-back partnership Manchester United have had since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Van Gaal stumbled upon Chris Smalling and Daley Blind as an unlikely yet miserly duo in the 2015-16 season, having prepared for it with Phil Jones alongside Blind during pre-season. Then Jones succumbed to injury.
United sieved only 35 goals in their 38 Premier League games. Blind, dubbed Van Gaal's "footballing son" by the man himself in a fascinating documentary, and Smalling each started in 35 of the fixtures.
