PATRICE EVRA has revealed the regret felt after making a shocking debut for Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson hooked the left-back at half-time of his first start against Manchester City in January 2006 – a game the Red Devils lost 3-1.
Patrice Evra enjoyed a hugely successful time under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old TraffordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
And Evra has detailed the sharp put-down he received from the legendary boss that led to the defender’s agent apologising for taking him to Manchester in the first place.
The 39-year-old told The Guardian: “My first introduction to the real Sir Alex was my debut against Manchester City.
“At half-time he gave the hairdryer for one minute to every player. It was a long 15 minutes.
“At the end he said to me in five seconds, ‘Patrice, sit down. You will learn how to play in England’.
“That night my agent said, ‘We made the biggest mistake coming here. I’m sorry’. I was upset but I was burning.”
Evra would eventually turn around his United career to become a mainstay of Fergie’s later successes.
However, the Scot tried to ensure his charges never became too big headed and even made an example of Evra as a warning shot to the rest of the squad.
The Frenchman recalled one half-time of a win over Tottenham: “Everyone’s saying, ‘Patrice, you’re playing amazing’. The worst is when Ferguson stays quiet.
“He was quiet that day for five minutes. He looks straight in my eyes. ‘Patrice, do you think you’re playing good?’ I say, ‘Yeah’. Ferguson says, ‘I saw you pass the ball back to [Edwin] Van der Saar’.
“‘Yes, boss, but just one’. He said, ‘If you pass the ball back again I take you off because this is one of your worst games’.
“My eyes start burning because I don’t like the injustice. We won 4-0 and the next day I go to Ferguson’s office. ‘Hello, son, what’s the problem?’
“‘Boss, the problem is yesterday’. Ferguson says, ‘Patrice, some players were disrespecting the opposition. I wanted everyone focused. I picked you to give them the message because you’re strong’.”
IT’S NOT JU, IT’S ME
After leaving for Juventus in 2014, the left-back revealed his unhappiness with how Ed Woodward handled his contract situation but was left missing Manchester.
With Ferguson having retired, he knew that his successor was doomed to failure as he recalled a stirring speech before the 2008 Champions League final.
Evra said: “He didn’t talk football. He said, ‘Imagine Patrice with his 24 brothers and sisters. His parents have to feed them all on a bad street’.
“He talked about Rooney growing up in a tough part of Liverpool. Carlos Tevez coming from Argentina. He talked about difficulties for other players.
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“He then said, ‘This is my victory. We have already won the Champions League. Enjoy the game’. Even now I’m having goosebumps.
“When Ferguson left, United lost their DNA, their philosophy.
“He was inspiring so much respect, so much fear, and if any player starts thinking he is bigger than the team then he destroyed you. The players always wanted to play for Ferguson.
“I tried my best for David Moyes but I knew it would be a disaster because players won’t respect him like that. It was a mission impossible.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
