THE NOTEBOOK: Man United boss Erik ten Hag starts Raphael Varane for first time in seven weeks as he sets aside differences, while injured Harry Maguire’s ovation is welcome proof of his renaissance at Old Trafford

Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League (and all European competitions) with a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

In a disgraceful European campaign, Erik ten Hag’s side took all four points to finish bottom of Group A.

However, there were some positives to take from the tawdry night – a restored relationship with Raphael Varane and proof that fans have accepted Harry Maguire.

In other news, the anti-Glazer banners are back, but not in the way you might expect.

Here, Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler summarizes some of the key themes, events and highlights of the match beyond United’s exit from Europe.

Manchester United left their European hopes behind them with a sob after a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag as Varan needs to finally get going

The big night required a big call from Erik ten Hag and the Manchester United manager put aside his differences with Raphael Varane to start the Frenchman for the first time in seven weeks.

Varane has made just three substitute appearances since playing in United’s win over Copenhagen here in October after he disputed Ten Haeg’s reasons for fielding Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire ahead of him.

But Ten Hag decided he needed the experience of the four-time Champions League winner so much that he overlooked his preference for a left-footed player at left-back central defense and chose Varane ahead of Evans in Victor Lindelof’s absence.

“He’s very experienced,” Ten Hag said. “Especially against Bayern we need to defend very hard and as we know he is a very good defender. Varane’s partnership with Maguire lasted less than 40 minutes before the latter was forced off with injury, with Luke Shaw following him at half-time with a hamstring strain.

Erik ten Hag has settled his differences with Raphael Varane, giving the defender his first start in seven weeks.

Maguire’s warm ovation as he limped off with a groin injury was welcome evidence of his Old Trafford renaissance.

The treatment of Maguire by some fans until recently was completely unfair, but he showed great character to beat them – and Ten Haeg -.

It’s a shame his resurgence was cut short as he became the latest addition to United’s injury list.

Maguire’s attempt to play even briefly with such an injury was brave, but it never worked.

His replacement, Jonny Evans, had been around so long that he played in United’s last winning Champions League campaign in 2007–08.

Harry Maguire was forced off the pitch with a groin injury but the ovation he received is proof of his renaissance at Old Trafford.

Kane makes his mark at Old Trafford

The stars predicted that Harry Kane’s first club game in England after leaving Tottenham would be at Manchester United in the summer, who could easily sign him.

However, there was no warm welcome in England’s Kane’s rather formal pre-match handshake with Maguire and Shaw.

England captain. scored four goals in his last five visits to Old Trafford and set up two more, but he was unable to extend that record here.

Manchester United may have signed Harry Kane in the summer but he has now become part of their downfall.

Anti-Glazer banners have disappeared from Old Trafford in recent weeks, but Bayern fans brought out their own last night.

German fans displayed two banners in the first half to protest the cost of tickets for the match, which they blamed on United’s owners.

“50 pounds of Glazers is too much, 20 is too much,” the banners read.

German football embraced the idea of ​​fans having more influence over the running of their clubs years ago, but don’t expect the idea to catch on in the Premier League anytime soon.