Speaking ahead of this year’s Soccer Aid which will take place at Old Trafford on June 6th, Patrice Evra opens up about his love for Manchester United, the fans, whether 2008 was the best ever United team, why losing to Liverpool was one of his ‘best’ moments and how he ended up getting thrown off the team bus by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Evra was speaking to Manchester United fan channel Full Time Devils presenter Adam McKola (@AdamMcKola) about his favourite moments with the fans.
On going back to Old Trafford, he said: “It’s my home, I have a little story, one day, I’m so in love with that pitch and I cut a little bit of piece of grass and I eat it. It’s just the love when I come into that pitch, that stadium, we’ve got the best fans in the world.
“I want to finish my career in Manchester, this is United and I always play for the fans.”
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The Frenchman joined Juventus 2014 after eight years at Old Trafford — just two short of a testimonial match.
He opened up on when Sir Alex Ferguson gave the entire team coach the hairdryer treatment during pre-season, saying, “We went on a pre-season tour in America, we we really tired after a really heavy session, everyone was waiting, we decided if one player didn’t sign [any autographs for the fans waiting] everyone would have to follow and not sign. I looked through the window of the bus and see Sir Alex signing every autograph, I said ‘guys we’re in trouble.’ He got on the bus and gave us the hairdryer, he was swearing, he said get off this bus you’re gong to sign each autograph for each fan.”
As a fans’ favourite, Evra shared many great moments with the Old Trafford faithful.
“The best moment with the United fans I had was when we lost 4-1 to Liverpool, the whistle went and they were signing ‘United!’ I went to turn my head, I remember I was down and Sir Alex Ferguson comes and he wasn’t upset he says ‘can you hear that guys? We have to win the league for them.’ At the end of the season we win the league for them.”
Finally, Evra explains why he sees 2008 as a disappointment.
“I had the Champions League, the League and that [FA] Cup was missing. Trust me, all the night [in Moscow] I didn’t celebrate that much because I was so sad, I didn’t win that cup. That year [in 2008], we should’ve done the treble.”
Watch the full interview below via FTD:
