Manchester United

Patrice Evra tells Manchester United prospects to "respect" the club's traditions

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 04 May 2020

Patrice Evra hopes that Manchester United's latest crop of youngsters learn to 'respect the traditions' of what it means to play for the club.

Patrice Evra has told Manchester United's up-and-coming players to respect the club's traditions if they are to make it big at Old Trafford.

The French full-back spent nine seasons with the Red Devils, eight of those playing under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Evra admits that it was ingrained into him exactly what it means to represent United - something that he hopes is passed down to the next generation of youngsters.

"Every time I was shaking the hands of Bobby Charlton, I feel something," he told the official Manchester United podcast. "Every time I saw him in the plane, travelling with us, when I know what happened with his ex-teammates, I was like, 'This person is a miracle'.

"But maybe some kids - and it's not an excuse, even if they are like six, seven - when they play for this club they need to know every person working for this club, and this is really important. You don't have any excuse. Just watch some DVDs like I did. And it's really important.

"So every time I was putting this shirt on, and I know how many people have worn this shirt and won. Respect this tradition, the philosophy.

"I was like, 'I can't let down those people'. When you play for Manchester United, it's not for you. You don't use Manchester United, and because you're a United player so you're famous, you're on social media. You play for United because you have to give to those people."

Evra spent two seasons with Juventus after leaving United in 2014, before seeing out his career with Marseille and West Ham United.