- Club icon Patrice Evra discusses Manchester United
- Frenchman praises current United boss
- Discusses who should get permanent role
Patrice Evra became a fan favourite during his time at Manchester United between 2006 and 2014.
Five Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy later, he is fondly remembered by the United faithful. He is revered as one of, if not the best, left-backs to have played for the Red Devils.
Since his career came to a halt over a decade ago, he has become a viral sensation with his ‘I love this game’ trend, entrepreneurship and occasional punditry.
Evra Has Faith in Carrick
In an exclusive sit-down interview with The Athletic, Evra was asked about his former teammate Michael Carrick’s chances of securing the permanent manager role.
Across the Frenchman’s illustrious career, only Wayne Rooney (302) played more games together with Evra than current boss Michael Carrick (291). They pair developed a special connection, sharing a great deal of silverware across 21,953 minutes together on the pitch.
Evra said: “He [Carrick] never panics. He is efficient. When you had a player like Carrick in your team, you feel relaxed. That’s what I feel with him: relaxed, safe.”
The former midfielder has only lost one game in charge of the Reds across two separate interim spells. With seven league games to go, he has almost steered the club back into Champions League qualification.
By highlighting that for previous managers “it didn’t work,” Evra threw his support behind the summer appointment of his former teammate.
The 44 year-old added: “I’m living the present. He needs to qualify for the Champions League. Some people say he doesn’t have the experience. But we did that in the past. We bring Mourinho, we bring Louis van Gaal, we bring Ruben Amorim and it didn’t work. Now it is working, so let’s see!”
The New but Familiar Approach
The club’s hierarchy has tried it all since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. As Evra pointed out, they went down the route of appointing a fellow Scot, a Dutch authoritarian, a special one, a babyfaced hero, and, lastly, the tactical manager(s). Between all that, a few club legends like Ryan Giggs, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Darren Fletcher and Carrick himself have taken the helm.
The club have reverted to relying on a familiar face to steady the ship, and it has worked. It was a success once before under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too. The former striker was sacked in 2021 after three eyars at the helm. It was Carrick who took charge before Ralf Rangnick was hired on a short-term basis.
At the same time, it is imperative to separate Carrick’s tenure from how Solskjaer’s reign ultimately curtailed. Understandably, some fans would have reservations about permanently appointing a former player again. Even for those who have enjoyed the ride so far this campaign, links with managers like Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique appeal more.
Whatever direction INEOS takes, the fans must bring the same energy to Old Trafford next season that Evra has in his post-playing career. His phrase ‘I love this game’ goes beyond just a viral catchphrase. It is about creating a new, pragmatic United blueprint whilst remembering the old glories.
