Showing posts with label Patrice Evra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrice Evra. Show all posts
Winning Mentality Separates Manchester United From 'Big Four' - Patrice Evra
The Frenchman has proclaimed that the club's winning mentality is the difference between the Red Devils and the other top sides in the Premier League...Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has said that the difference between the Red Devils and the rest of the 'Big Four' is the desire to keep winning at the highest level.
"I think the difference between us and the other three of the so-called Big Four in England is that we are totally and utterly fixated by our major objective, which is to win the title again and again," Evra told The Sun.
"It's easy to win a title but the tough thing is to retain it.
"So to lift the Premier League trophy three or four times on the trot is a hugely impressive achievement."
The France international revealed that he looks up to manager Sir Alex Ferguson and expressed his loyalty to the red half of Manchester.
"For players like me, Sir Alex is like a kind of grandfather to us," he remarked.
"He's really attached to his players and protects us well.
"But he does everything remorselessly well and expects us to follow that example. United is my family, it has a massive history and every time I pull on this shirt I feel like I'm carrying that history on my back.
"All the ex-players here are treated like legends when they come and take their seat in the stand, and that's how I hope I'll be regarded when I finish at Old Trafford."
'Fergie' and his 'grandchildren' will take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.
"I think the difference between us and the other three of the so-called Big Four in England is that we are totally and utterly fixated by our major objective, which is to win the title again and again," Evra told The Sun.
"It's easy to win a title but the tough thing is to retain it.
"So to lift the Premier League trophy three or four times on the trot is a hugely impressive achievement."
The France international revealed that he looks up to manager Sir Alex Ferguson and expressed his loyalty to the red half of Manchester.
"For players like me, Sir Alex is like a kind of grandfather to us," he remarked.
"He's really attached to his players and protects us well.
"But he does everything remorselessly well and expects us to follow that example. United is my family, it has a massive history and every time I pull on this shirt I feel like I'm carrying that history on my back.
"All the ex-players here are treated like legends when they come and take their seat in the stand, and that's how I hope I'll be regarded when I finish at Old Trafford."
'Fergie' and his 'grandchildren' will take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ferguson launches blast at footballing fakers
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists players who pretend to be injured in order to cause stoppages in play are "killing the game".Ferguson's men were involved in a controversial incident during last Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley when defender Patrice Evra went down injured but Chelsea played on and scored, with referee Chris Foy playing the advantage.
The Scot claims referees are finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate between genuine instances when the game needs to be stopped to treat injuries and when players are trying to trick them into blowing the whistle.
A further complication is that the decision to stop play is not entirely in the official's hands, with some players still opting to abide by what Ferguson calls the "unwritten rule" to kick the ball into touch when a player goes down, injured or otherwise.
Ferguson feels if players only went to ground when genuinely injured, the referee's job would be much easier.
"This unwritten rule has come into the game and opportunist players have just overdone it. They have overcooked the whole thing," he said.
"Last week Evra was through and into the last third of the pitch, the referee stops it and (Michael) Ballack gets up. It could have been a serious problem so he stopped the game.
"Then when Evra is fouled, Chelsea don't kick the ball out, the referee plays on and we lose a goal.
"It is a grey area and something has to be done about it.
"The players are killing the game. The players' unprofessionalism is killing the game. Not the referees. The problem is how much the referee can tolerate when the players lie down pretending to be injured.
"There is no doubt that this unwritten rule about players kicking the ball into touch has been exploited to ridiculous degrees now."
Ferguson added: "I spoke to my players about it and told them not to kick the ball out, that they should let the referee decide when to stop the game.
"But the players wouldn't do it. If players don't put the ball out they get stick off opposing players and opposing fans.
"If a referee stops the game twice when players go down and on the third occasion he decides to play on, he makes a rod for his own back.
"Last Sunday, Chelsea had plenty of time to kick the ball out when Patrice Evra was injured after being fouled by Michael Ballack."
Patrice Evra: Manchester United looking good
Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra refuses to believe the Premier League champions are any weaker after losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez this summer.
While manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted replacing Ronaldo, who scored 26 goals last season, is going to be difficult, he will surely be buoyed by the performances of Antonio Valencia, Anderson and Nani during the Audi Cup over the last few days.
Valencia and Anderson both opened their accounts for the club in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Boca Juniors while Nani stood out in last night's penalty shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich.
And Evra believes United have nothing to worry about in compensating for the loss of two key members of their team from last season.
"They are two big players, but the star of the team is the team," he said.
"Two players alone do not make a team. We have signed some good players and, like I say, Manchester United are a team and not only about two players.
"I can already see a good team coming along and we are all confident about doing well with this team as it is."
Evra believes United have made good progress since waving goodbye to Ronaldo and Tevez.
Although there has been much criticism of their tiring tour of the Far East, Evra believes it has played an important role in preparing for the upcoming season.
It has allowed Ferguson to take a look at new options in attack following the arrival of Michael Owen, who probably should have scored his fifth goal in as many games at the Allianz Arena last night.
And Evra is confident the team will be firing on all cylinders come the start of what he is predicting to be another successful season for the Red Devils.
"We worked really well in Asia and played some good games, it was a good tour," he said.
"We are moving along bit by bit in preparation for our first match of the season on August 9 against Chelsea.
"We want to at least defend the titles we won last season and try to win the Champions League."
Patrice Evra of Manchester United in action during the pre-season Audi Cup
Patrice Evra of Manchester United in action during the pre-season Audi Cup
The ever-energetic Patrice Evra makes inroads down the left flank
The ever-energetic Patrice Evra makes inroads down the left flank
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