“I’m not one for the violence, but many people in the club could do with a good slap.”
Patrice Evra is a passionate man, especially when it comes to Manchester United, so his views after United’s 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur were always going to be worth watching.
United had been insipid from the moment they took the lead from the penalty spot within the first minute, and the performance provoked a furious response from supporters on social media.
For Evra, it seemed to be the final straw after a start to the season which has seen one win from the club’s opening two league games. He started off his post-match segment by saying “I really would like to end my contract with Sky” before unleashing on his former team.
"I really would like to end my contract with Sky – I know you have to have some filter when you talk on TV." 😳
Patrice Evra's emotional post-match thoughts following #MUFC's 6-1 defeat to Spurs is a *MUST WATCH*! 😮🟥 pic.twitter.com/dEy4w5GJgD
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 4, 2020
“I know you have to have some filter when you talk on TV,” said Evra. “But it’s a shambles.
“Gary Neville – I hear him say ‘captain Harry Maguire needs a holiday, a break, to go to the national team’. We’re always talking about pairing him with someone, but what about taking him out of the squad?
“I don’t want to start criticising players. I’ve been there so it’s really difficult. I’ve made many comments about the board, but tonight no one has any excuse.
“They let down all the United fans. And I don’t care about the result, because I’ve been beat 6-1, but it’s just that every year is the same story.
“I feel like all of the United fans right now. And that’s why I’d prefer to even commentate on other games if I continue working for Sky.”
Before all ball was kicked at Old Trafford, Evra took aim at Manchester United’s board for the club’s underwhelming transfer window, labelling their attempts to sign Jadon Sancho “embarrassing”.
The former left-back has already been extremely vocal about his old club’s failure to adequately strengthen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad over the summer, posting a 20-minute rant to his Instagram only a couple of weeks ago. Evra, once again, expressed his frustrations at the club being unable to secure their top transfer target, Jadon Sancho.
“We don’t need to buy five, seven, 10 players, but at least [get] your main target,” Evra said.
“The main target was Sancho, and it was embarrassing. We don’t even get him. If we start using the coronavirus as an excuse…”
Evra 🗣"It was embarrassing we did not even get him"
Souness 🗣"It was like he was available lets get him" @Evra & Graeme Souness debate Manchester United's transfer window pic.twitter.com/23U737rhix
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 4, 2020
Sancho looked certain to arrive at Old Trafford after United secured a return to the Champions League at the end of last season, but a move has so far failed to materialise. Borussia Dortmund have refused to negotiate on their reported £109m asking price for the England international. The German club also insisted that United complete the deal before August 10 – a deadline which has long since passed.
Despite this, hopes that United might still complete a move for Sancho are still alive – just – with the October 5 deadline looming. A bid was reportedly rejected by Dortmund last week but another is reportedly in the offing, with some reports claiming Sancho willingness to make the move to Manchester may force the German club to accept.
Meanwhile, United appear to be inching ever closer to their second arrival of the summer. Edinson Cavani, a free agent since the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in the summer, is said to be due in Manchester to finalise a deal with the club.
The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10
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