Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson once told him personally, two senior players from the 2012-13 League champions squad will become great managers one day – Ryan Giggs and himself.
Since then Giggs has managed to handle sort of a caretaker charge of Manchester United for a four-match term after the nine-month reign of ‘David Moyes’ terror.
34-year-old Evra is still on the run, plying his trade for the last 15 months with Italian champions Juventus, having won Serie A and Coppa Italia last season, along with playing the Champions League final for the fifth time personally.
“Patrice, two people are going to be great managers in this team,” Ferguson is reported as saying. “You and Ryan Giggs.
“You understand football, you know how to talk to people, you’ve got the leadership. Forget tactics and everything; you know how to pass on your passion. You can easily pass on your inspiration, your leadership. Trust me – do your badges.”
Evra eventually became one of Fergie’s preferable on-field lieutenants at the end days of his career with United before leaving in the 2014 summer.
However Leadership, in his latest book, Ferguson stated Evra is surely a “natural leader”.
Now Patrice Evra admits he is now “trying to absorb everything” in his final playing time in Italy, Bianconeri manager Max Allegri also helping the Frenchman.
And according to Evra, there is much difference in styles between Premier League and Serie A.
“When I’ve got the ball I have three solutions. I have to choose the best one. In England, sometimes you’ve got the ball and you have to create something with your own skill.
“But in Italy they don’t leave you time to create. Allegri always says ‘if this door is closed, why do through it? Go to the open door. If that one is closed again, pass the ball back. Then you go to the other door.’ That’s their philosophy, and I’m so lucky to get all of this information.”