When it comes to former football players, Patrice Evra is one of the most well spoken ones. While he didn’t do the transition to punditry like some of his former Manchester United teammates such as Garry Neville, Roy Keane or Rio Ferdinand, Evra is doing a lot of work for the media and is an active member on social media platforms. As one of the legendary Red Devils defenders, Evra is well suited to talk about all things football.
The former French international did as much during one of his most recent interviews. If you didn’t know, Patrice is currently employed by one global online casinos and sportsbook brand, and is frequently talking to people from their official blog. In this article we are going to bring you some of the most interesting titbits from the most recent Stake exclusive interview with Patrice Evra.
Ancelotti Can Win Something With Brazil
While Patrice Evra never played for Carlo Ancelotti he holds the Italian manager in high esteem. The former AC Milan and Real Madrid manager took over the Brazilian national team a few months ago, and will be leading them at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Evra remains reserved about the chances that Brazil has to win the WC in 2026 stating that the Brazil of today lacks the star power some of the previous generations, claiming that the only star they have close to the former Galactics of the team is Neymar, who will probably miss the tourney due to medical reasons.
Yet, the former French international is positive that an old fox such as Don Carlo can get the best out of the players such as Vincius Jr, and Rodrygo with whom he has worked at Real Madrid. Brazil is a nation of winners, and Ancelotti is one in Evra’s eyes, and this pairing could bring glory to the nation going forward. Talking about how he views Brazil and Carlo, Evra said: ” I love Carlo Ancelotti as a person, and as a coach. I think he’ll get something out of this team. We will see a good version of Brazil under him.”
Americanisation of English Football is Big no For Patrice
While a Frenchman, Patrice Evra spent the majority of his career playing football overseas, mostly for Manchester United. As such a player, he is a big fan of the game, and the way the fans and professionals approach it in the UK. In recent times, one could argue that the game no longer belongs to the fans with the American influence in the game becoming more and more prevalent. Older fans of the game are not fully understanding what people such as Snoop Dog and other American celebrities are bringing to the game. Evra is one of those people who understand where the world is moving and that everything that’s transpiring in the game is part of modern trends. There’s money to be made in the game, and Evra believes that successful people such as Snoop Dog can elevate the structure in Swansea the same way they did for their careers. As long as football remains a top priority Evra is all for new ownership and more money poured into the teams and fan satisfaction.
Evra has no quarrels with American owners such as Snood Dog or Ryan Reynolds. What troubles him are the attempts of many people from overseas to Americanise the game a tad bit too much for his taste. The former United and France left back said that the Premier League and Championship are not like the NBA or NFL. For him, football games have no space to include fireworks and cheerleaders. Evra is also not a big fan of VAR, which is an addition that ruined the game for him, and also being a poorly translated product from the National Football League. To conclude the subject of Americanisation of football during his Stake.com interview, Evra said: “I saw when Todd Boehly suggested an All Star Premier League game, can you really picture a Man United player playing with a Liverpool player? It won’t work. Please don’t try bringing an American identity into England.”
Michael Carrick Deserves More Support For All The Work He’s Done at United
For most former Manchester United players the Red Devils remains the main subject, and especially for those that continued to work for television once their professional careers ended. Evra is keeping a close eye on his former team, and believes that Michael Carrick has done a good job with the team that he has at disposal, and that he should be given a long term contract when the season ends. At the same time, Patrice is super critical of his former teammates who now fork for television networks.
In recent weeks. Despite United playing good football, and being close to securing a Champions League spot, former United players such as Garry Neville, Roy Keane, and Paul Scholes have been criticizing Carrick more than they’ve been praising him. Acting like this, in moments when the team is doing all right, and the manager has full control over the squad is counterproductive. Evra does not understand where the lack of support comes from. The Frenchman believes that his former teammates are the victims of modern media where you have to be negative to attract clicks and viewers, and that Neville, Scholes, and Keane are doing this on purpose as part of their work, rather than not being supportive of their former teammate. Evra is far from being impressed by his former teammates who all did a poor job as managers, and now find it on point to criticize one who is doing a fine job. While addressing this, Patrice said: “As players, they’re legends, but as managers, they haven’t done a great job. So for them to speak and possibly kill the career of a manager, it’s a little bit too much.”
Bruno Fernandes Future at United
During the past few years, Bruno Fernandes has been one of the top United players, and has deservedly got the honour to wear the captain’s armband. Last summer, he was close to leaving United for the first time during his career, but remained, convinced by the then manager Ruben Amorim. During the upcoming summer, he will have an important decision to make, as there are still suitors for his signature, and he would be able to win major trophies if he moved abroad. Patrice Evra is well aware of the qualities Bruno has, and the fact he could do better elsewhere. At the same time, former Red Devils left back, feels as if Fernandes has adopted the United’s DNA, and that he enjoys the role of being the club’s captain. Also, his family has settled in Manchester, and while the trophies weren’t there during the past few seasons, Evra trusts that Bruno can’t do better than what he has done at United during the past few years. Yet, he also stated that the decision on his future lies in Fernandes’ hands: “Some players have left Man United and gone on to win trophies, but they didn’t have the same impact there as they did at Man United. I think Bruno will have a lot of opportunities in the summer, it’s up to him whether he wants to go.”
Palmer to United? Is it The Right Move?
It is no secret that Cole Palmer grew up as a United fan. For Evra, this means little once you are a professional player. Footballers you are playing today were all kids when Manchester United was dominating, so it comes as no surprise many of them were fans of the team growing up. Once professional players, the former fandom means little. While Evra understands that Palmer is one of the top English talents at the moment, he is also aware of the fact that Cole has a long term contract with Chelsea, and that his signature will not come cheap. In an era of United when the team is no longer one of the richest in the world, and with more pressing needs than signing an attacking player, Patrice just doesn’t see this transfer going through. Also, Evra sees Palmer as injury prone, and as a player who is often having purple patches of good form only to disappear for a few games at time: “Palmer has had a lot of injuries and he needs to get back in form. When you play for Man United, you can’t have a good month, you have to perform all year. I can’t say if Palmer takes Man United up a level, because the pressure there is different from what it is at Chelsea.”
Strength From Defensive Midfield
As a through and through United player and now a fan, Evra is more than sure that any future success United might have lies on a solid defensive foundation. He’s no fan of Cole Palmer, trusting in the creative players the Red Devils currently have at their disposal. At the same time he would not oppose a move for Elliott Anderson or Adam Wharton. Evra knows that Casemiro and Ugarte are not enough for an entire PL season, and when you take into account that the Brazilian is probably leaving in the summer, reinforcements in the defensive midfield is a must for United. Talking about the direction United needs to take in the summer, the former French international said: “Man United have good playmakers but we need a solid defensive midfielder, in a style similar to Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick or Darren Fletcher. Even Ji-Sung Park would run everywhere when he played in the middle.”
While many fans often laugh at the ideas that former United players shave, often being criticized for hyping up themselves and not being in favour of new and rising stars, it is no secret that back in the day the Red Devils were dominating, and that today, they are on a decade long slump and have yet to compete for a Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson left.
City vs. Arsenal? Who Will Come Out on Top?
During his playing days, United’s main rival for the title was always Arsenal, and sometimes Chelsea. City came to prominence once Evra was past his best days. This is why many fans still believe that Evra hates the Gunners. Yet, for the Frenchmen it is all a banter, especially now when he is no longer involved with the game as he once was. These days, when the Red Devils are no longer competing for the title, Evra is forced to comment on Arsenal and United’s city rivals. Putting old rivalries aside, talking about this year’s title race, Patrice said: “I want Arsenal to win the league, I just hope they don’t bottle it again. People like the joke I made about calling them Netflix, we always have to wait for next season. Come on Arsenal, you can do it this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they bottle it again.”
If the most recent duel between Arsenal and Manchester City is anything to go by, the title race is going to be much closer than what the table suggests right now. Arsenal just lost the EFL Cup final to City, and it remains to be seen just how much effect this loss will have on the team after the international break. At the moment, the Gunners are at the top with 70 points after 31 games. The Citizens are second, with 61 points from 30 games. The two teams meet at the Etihad on 19th of April, and that will be the day when the title is most likely decided.
If you want to read more about what Patrice Evra had to say on subjects such as Premier League title race, Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Liverpool, Arne Slot, Mo Salah, the World Cup, French national team and Zinedine Zidane, Tottenham, KSI, Ryan Reynolds, and owning a football club as a celebrity, you need to read Patrice Evra’s most recent interview with Stake.