Real Madrid are away to Atalanta this Wednesday in the Champions League last 16 first leg tie. A match in which, barring a surprise, Raphael Varane will lead his men in the centre of defence.
'Los Blancos' just about did enough in the group phase, but the French central defender warned teams ahead of this tie: "We had been written off, but now we are back. It is something that forms part of this team and this club. There are many things. The coach, the players and the club. It's a way of thinking that I quickly adapted when I signed for Real Madrid."
"Everything is possible still. It's an off season and momentum can change quickly. We can get several good results and then everything can work again. "We already know that," he add in an online chat with some media outlets from his country.
Varane also admitted that he is gradually getting back to his best: "To be at the top level, resilence is important. When we have more difficult matches, confidence comes and goes. What you have to do is stay focussed and be prepared to fight again for an objective: look to be competitive. Afterwards, the context and the season makes things difficult."
He also referred to the fact they are without Sergio Ramos, who is still recovering from his knee injury: "That does not change anything in relation to my performance on the pitch. I'm always there to guide my teammates. I do it always, with or without him."
"We have played together for 10 years. There's not much need to communicate amongst outselves, we know each other. Playing together and experience are not a myth. Before the match, we look at each other and it starts. We know how the other person moves on the pitch. We don't need to think, we know where the other one goes," he added.
Varane also revealed how much he demands of himself: "To remain at the top level, you have to do better and always improve. We are talking about Ramos, but I see that there are players in the dressing room who have been there for years and they remain at the top level because they are always keen for more."