Patrice Evra recalls massive Ferguson rant over incident with Man Utd fans

Patrice Evra has recalled the time Sir Alex Ferguson lambasted his Manchester United players for failing to sign autographs for supporters.

The French left-back spent nine successful years at Old Trafford, helping the Red Devils win a Champions League, three League Cups and five Premier League titles.

However, it was not all happy times for Evra and his United team-mates with the notoriously prickly Ferguson, who was quick to jump on them if he thought they were out of line.

And Evra has reminisced about the time they felt the full force of his “hairdryer” after the Red Devils players refused to sign autographs for fans.

“I give you one example, once when we were in pre-season, and before we came on the bus, we were really tired, I’ll be honest with you, and there was a queue of fans,” Evra told the Manchester United Podcast.

“And the players were like ‘when no one signs, no one has to sign’. So we went straight to the bus, everyone, and I look out the window and I see Sir Alex Ferguson signing each autograph.

“I swear he must have signed for like 45 minutes. He was signing [for] everyone. I say ,’Guys, when the boss comes on the bus, we are done’.

“And he came on the bus, he gave us the hairdryer. ‘What the hell do you think you are?! Those people are paying your salary. Those people are coming to watch you. Now get the f**k down there and sign.’ And we had to sign each fan. But that’s the mentality.”

 

Patrice Evra reveals death threats after Luis Suarez racism row

Patrice Evra has revealed he needed security outside his home for two months after receiving death threats in the wake of the racism row with then Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in 2011.

Suarez was given an eight-match ban by the Football Association after being found guilty of misconduct for using insulting words to Evra, which included a reference to the defender’s colour, at Anfield in October that year.

But Liverpool publicly backed their striker – for which Jamie Carragher apologised in October last year – and Evra said he faced a huge backlash which included threatening letters directed at him and his family.

“Manchester United received so many threatening letters about me,” Evra told the club’s UTD Podcast. Read more…