Patrice Evra has claimed that Manchester United players were “ready to kill” one cult hero before an intervention from legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 42-year-old Manchester United legend had a prolific playing career at Old Trafford after the Red Devils signed him from Monaco in 2006.
Patrice Evra has even admitted that he incurred the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson, who is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time.
During his illustrious spell at Old Trafford, the Frenchman lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League and three FA Cups.
Evra continued to play at United after Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, but the former Red Devils left-back left Old Trafford in 2014 and signed for Juventus.
The ex-France and United defender played for Juventus, Marseille and West Ham before he announced his retirement from football in 2019.
Evra talks Man Utd cult hero
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Patrice Evra recalled Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League at Anfield in 2011.
Dirk Kuyt scored a hat-trick to ensure that Sir Alex Ferguson’s men suffered defeat, but the match also featured a controversial moment involving Nani.
Nani was stretchered off before half-time after a horror challenge from Jamie Carragher, with United and Liverpool players involved in a heated confrontation.
Ferguson was forced to withdraw United cult hero Nani before half-time and replaced him with Red Devils fan-favourite Javier Hernandez.
Evra opened up on how United legend Paul Scholes spotted Nani “crying” and how he could see the 37-year-old Portuguese winger’s “bone” after the challenge.
“I remember when Nani had a crazy challenge against Jamie Carragher against Liverpool,” he said.
“And we start coming and fighting with the player.
“And I remember Paul Scholes saw Nani crying because you could see the bone. And when we saw that, we just said like, ‘Come on, guys!’ And we left.”
Evra on Ferguson and Nani
Former Premier League referee Phil Dowd didn’t send Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher off in the match, despite the nasty extent of the tackle on Nani.
Evra revealed the mindset that Ferguson had at the time after claiming the legendary Scotsman was furious with Nani “crying at Anfield.”
Ferguson later told the United dressing room that former Red Devils winger Nani had received time off “because mentally” he wasn’t ready to return.
However, Evra admitted that the United dressing room were “ready to kill” Nani before Ferguson intervened with his reason for Nani’s absence.
“I remember Ferguson at half-time when Nani was at the massage table and Ferguson came and he said, ‘I really hope you really broke your leg because crying at Anfield, this is impossible,’” he continued.
“So, this is to tell you the mentality. We were waiting for Nani the next day and Ferguson had to give him one week off.
“He said, ‘I’ve given him one week off because mentally he is not ready to come back.’ But we were ready to kill him.”
