“He didn’t talk about football”, “We all had goosebumps” - Patrice Evra shares best ever team talk from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has shared the details of the best team talk he experienced with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. The Frenchman was signed by the football great in the January window of 2006 and enjoyed a trophy-laden seven-and-a-half-year stint under the Scotsman.
Evra won five Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League crown under Sir Alex, playing 27,878 minutes under him spread across 334 games. The Frenchman enjoyed many fantastic moments with the legendary manager but recalled a particularly moving team talk from the 13-time Premier League winner.
He said on the Obi-One Podcast:
"It's the best-ever pitch I've ever heard in my life because he didn't talk about football. He just picked each individual and talked about their life experiences," he added, before revealing Ferguson focused on Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Anderson and himself."
"He spoke to Carlos Tevez surviving in Buenos Aires, Rooney in Liverpool, Anderson in the favelas in Brazil," Evra continued. "Before the game we all had goosebumps, and you know what he said... 'I've already won, look at this dressing room, so many different nationalities and you're all together, go outside and just enjoy it... my trophy is already there'."
Patrice Evra left Manchester United in the summer of 2014 to join Italian giants Juventus in a deal reportedly worth €1.9 million one year after Sir Alex Ferguson retired following his final League triumph.
Patrice Evra believes Manchester United signed Paul Pogba to humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson
Patrice Evra believes the team signed Paul Pogba to humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson. The French icon was initially released by the club during the stewardship of the legendary manager but resigned for a reported €105 million fee in 2016.
The World Cup winner went on to play 17,692 minutes for the Red Devils spread across 233 games. He led them to the UEFA Europa League and League Cup glory, while scoring 39 goals and providing 48 assists.
However, Evra believes the signing was made with ulterior motives, telling Sky Bet via SPORTbible:
“Manchester United brought Paul Pogba back because they wanted to humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson. I told Paul to not go back because he wanted Real Madrid and Madrid wanted him, but Florentino Pérez didn’t want to pay the money. His agent called United, and he signed with him without telling me. The club was happy because they were selling shirts, you know the kids love Pogba – it was more commercial than anything on the pitch."
Patrice Evra and Paul Pogba shared the pitch for 6,994 minutes spread across 92 games for three teams (France, Man United, and Juventus). The midfielder never settled at Old Trafford following his return and left to rejoin The Old Lady of Turin for free yet again in 2022 after his contract with the 20-time English champions expired.