Patrice Evra was one of football’s best full-backs. A hero among Manchester United fans, he won five league titles and the European Cup in an eight year spell at Old Trafford between 2006-14.
Alex Ferguson said of him: “He was quick, had superb technique and a strong personality. Very strong.”
Evra won the League Cup months after arriving in Manchester in January 2006, then the Premier League title a year later.
“I was like a kid! I remember I was in Mikael Silvestre’s house and we were watching the game, I think it was Chelsea playing and if they lost, we were champions,” he said.
“I think they lost and we were champions and I start jumping around, and Mikael was looking at me thinking, ‘What is he doing?’ Because he’d already won four leagues and I was screaming and he told me to calm down. I think your first one is so amazing.
“I’ll be honest, when you start winning the third one, the fourth and the fifth, you celebrate but not the same way. You celebrate because of the cameras and stuff, but it’s not the same.
"Ferguson taught us all to be like a robot. I don’t think I was a human being playing for Manchester United. When we won games, when I was doing something good, I wasn’t pleased. For me, it was something normal."
Evra worked under some great managers.
“I always say that [Didier] Deschamps taught me winning is important, but Ferguson taught me that winning is normal,” he told the new United official podcast.
“I remember after big wins against Liverpool he just said, ‘Well done, son’. He was never screaming, apart from when we won the Champions League final. It was just something normal, winning the league.”
On respecting the traditions of the club, Evra said: “Every time I was shaking the hands of Bobby Charlton, I feel something. And every time I saw him in the plane, travelling with us, when I know what's happening with all his ex-teammates, I was like, 'This person is a miracle'.
"But maybe some kids – and it's not an excuse, even if they are like six, seven – when they play for this club they need to know every person working for this club, and this is really important. You don't have any excuse. Just watch some DVDs like I did. And it's really important.”
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Evra was always proud to wear the shirt.
“So every time I was putting this shirt on, and I know how many people have worn this shirt and won,” he said. “Respect this tradition, the philosophy. I was like, ‘I can't let down those people’. When you play for Manchester United, it's not for you. You don't use Manchester United, and because you're a United player you're famous, you're on social media. You play for United because you have to give to those people.
“I give you one example: once when we were in pre-season, and before we came on the bus, we were really tired, I'll be honest with you, and there was a queue of fans. And the players were like: when no one signs, no one has to sign. So we went straight to the bus, every one, and I look out the window and I see Sir Alex Ferguson signing each autograph. I swear he must have signed for like 45 minutes.
"He was signing [for] everyone. I say 'Guys, when the boss comes on the bus, we are done.' And he came on the bus, he gave us the hairdryer. 'What the hell do you think you are?! Those people are paying your salary. Those people are coming to watch you. Now get down there and sign.' And we had to sign each fan. But that's the mentality.”
