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The Athletic FC Podcast
Patrice Evra interview: Sir Alex Ferguson, Suarez and Carrick's Man United
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- [00:00]
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Patrice Evra
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- [01:52]
TurboTax Announcer
The Athletic FC.
- [01:58]
Athletic FC Host (Ayo Akimolere)
Welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayo Akimolere. Coming up today we have a truly special interview, Manchester United legend Patrice Evra in conversation with Adam Crafton. They cover a huge amount of ground, including his relationship with the boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, the highs and lows of his Champions League final appearances, his reaction to his best friend Carlos Tevez crossing the divide to Manchester City, and his take on Whether Michael Carrick should be handed the United job permanently. Well, let's dive in.
- [02:33]
Adam Crafton
Catrice, first of all, thank you for your time. Really appreciate it. Can you explain what you're doing in Arizona and the project that you're working on? As I understand it, it relates to projects to help athletes after they retire from sport, Is that right?
- [02:52]
Patrice Evra
Yeah, that's correct. It's my first time in Arizona. In Phoenix, the jet lag is quite, really heavy for us. But apart from that, no, we enjoy it. And I came here for the pack event. You know, I meet Chip, I was in the UAE and he didn't know who I was, to be honest. But we just connect. We talk like just five minutes, then suddenly he text me back and say, Patrice, you know, we need to do something. And he see also how successful I was, you know, after retiring. And he explained me the project about helping. Actually we say about athletes, they already retired, but he's also currently athletes. So it's both, it's both of them. And to be honest, this project, this kind of view, nobody have done it. Around the world, like even in Europe we have a lot of association where they can help the athletes on legal issue, but not as a business wise as where you can invest, where you can work, you know, your creativity. Because people sometimes think we are just athletes, yes, we are athletes, but we also got a brain. And it's really important, especially when you retire, to understand what you want to do, what you want to invest, what you're passionate about. And I think PAC is the best partner to do it.
- [04:18]
Adam Crafton
So it's about helping athletes into the business world or into whichever career or creative space they want to go into.
- [04:25]
Patrice Evra
I think is everything first of all is a great network. It's about connecting people between them, sharing their experience. We are not here doing those kind of events and you're going to have a deal today. The most important is the human side is like sharing our knowledge. And maybe I'm passionate about something, meeting someone is really passionate about that and we can do something together. You know, I think sometimes people saw those kind of events and just as a jackpot or making money. No, I think the human side is really important and that's my philosophy of life. And that's what I'm so excited today to meet. I think more than 280 athletes. Can you believe that? I think it's just amazing. And we're going to discuss in a room, having some chat and let see what's going to come out of it.
- [05:13]
Adam Crafton
Yeah, I'd Love to know how you found the experience of retiring, because you seem someone on the pitch who lived every single moment that you loved going to, training, being part of a group, and then all of a sudden you are an individual in the world, in the real world. How did you find that psychologically?
- [05:34]
Patrice Evra
You know, it's really funny because I live the present, you know, I never think about the future because I don't want to live with anxiety and stress. I don't want to think about the past. I don't want to live with regrets. So I'm like, focused in the present. And when you retire, I think my main problem was like, what I'm doing now because I was working on tv, I was an entrepreneur, a businessman doing my social impact about defending the, you know, ending the violence against children. So I was doing so many things then I was confused. I was like, you know, before I can say I'm a football player, but now I'm everything. And like you say, I think as an individual now I feel more free, I feel more content, and I feel I can do what I want to do. And what I'm doing is, you don't need to be a genius. I'm just using the same tool, the same skill I had when I was the captain of the French national team or whatever. That's what I'm using in business. And what make me happy now is to give back to the society. My mom always teach me, more you give, more you receive. So I think I've been really blessed with my transition because I'm so content. I'm more happy now than when I used to play because people don't understand when especially you perform at the height level, you're a monster, you're a machine. You have to hide all your emotion. You just here to win, but when? Now, of course I want to win. Every project I do, if I'm helping a kid, I want this kid to smile and to be happy. If I'm one project, I'm 100% on it, but it's not. I've got more time in my hands. To be honest, I'm more busy now than when I used to play. But I just discover for me, it's like just a new life, meeting new people, different culture, different projects. So I just feel blessed and grateful.
- [07:31]
Adam Crafton
Talk to me. You just said when you're playing that you have to act like a monster, almost not have feelings, almost disassociate yourself from normal human reactions. How did you learn to do that?
- [07:46]
Patrice Evra
I think it's not an easy things to do. But with age, of course, you get more mature. And meeting also my wife, I think she. She get rid some of my toxic masculinity when I say that we still need some. But she helped me to be more emotional. Like, for me, crying was a weakness before. This is the way I grew up. And I had a lot of trauma, you know, as a growing up. I don't know if you read my book, but at the age of 13, I've been sexually abused. So it's all those stuff where inside I feel like now meeting the right person and opening myself, I feel stronger and I feel happier. So it wasn't an easy process. But, you know, after you see your kids playing around you, you have to get more soft. But of course, to get a street with them, because it's not an easy world outside. But I always say also to my wife, I'm glad I meet her now, because if I meet her during my career, it wouldn't work because I couldn't have. I will say being more softer because when you win, you have to be an animal. You have to be a monster. So that switch, I will give some credit to my wife.
- [09:01]
Adam Crafton
You're incredibly courageous and brave to talk about what you went through as a child and share those experiences, because I think it helps a lot of people. Could you have imagined doing that earlier in your career? Would that have been possible in the football world that you lived through, in locker rooms and dressing rooms where there's fans and there's social media, there's all those dynamics? Would it have been kind of safe for you in many ways to do that and share those experiences?
- [09:34]
Patrice Evra
I mean, it's a toxic world, the minor sport. I think you cannot even come and say you are sad. I think Thierry Henry was doing an interview where he was talking like, we not allowed ourselves to be depressed. I have many friends, they've been in depression, but for me, this is a luxury. I can't afford to be depressed, especially when you have to lead a team. I always say this example when I was playing in Italy at Juventus, and one player was crying on the plane, and I said to my teammate, Tevez, wow, you know, don't say it to anyone, but this player is crying. And he asked me why. I said, because he's watched a movie, and he said the movie was so sad. Said for the fourth time, he cry. And I said to my teammate, Carlito, don't say it to anybody. As soon as we land, and we were, like, waiting for the baggage and they Say to the manager, boss, oh, you want us to go to the war when we have our main striker crying because he watch a movie and everyone was laughing, you know. But now the new Patrice will be like, oh, maybe, you know, it's okay, you know, to cry watching a movie. But in the tough man of, I would say, or sport world, you can't. You can't open yourself, you know, you. I remember it was some people, they were like coming and to say, like, maybe in your team you got also player. They are gay. And you could see like the people all crazy, they were going about, and I have to step out. And I was like, guys, you know, we don't have to judge people. We need to be unique. We have one goal is to win. But you can't open yourself. You can't be yourself. You have to be a savage. Because if you cry, if for any reason, people won't respect you. So, yes, it's a tough.
- [11:24]
Adam Crafton
Yeah. Do you think that's different now or still the same in football?
- [11:28]
Patrice Evra
I think now it's too much. I think that's the problem. We need to find a balance. But I feel the new generation got too much help. Now. You want one issue. You're playing bad or no, because I'm not feeling good. Back in the day, you don't have choice to say, I'm not feeling good. So now it's too many excuses. I think they have the mental health, the social health. We didn't have that. So that's why I respect that. But I think sometime is too much. Sometimes you have to go against the wall, you know, to become even more stronger. So if we find the right balance, it will be better. Like, for example, in sport and especially in a football, you know, we didn't have all those analyzing. Like now the guys with his computer, you feel like he's more smart than the manager. He will say, okay, he can't play because this game, he done like 20 sprints. And, you know, the last game he'd done only 15 sprints. This doesn't mean, you know, I'm tired or whatever. So I think I'm. I'm happy to use the technology, but the technology can't, you know, coming number one than. Than the human side. You. You have to feel yourself, you know,
- [12:36]
Adam Crafton
because your career only ended a couple of years ago. Did you start to see that trend come in where there was an overemphasis on data and analytics and sports science to a certain extent?
- [12:47]
Patrice Evra
Oh, yes, I saw that. I saw with the player, you know, Scrolling on social media at halftime, coming
- [12:54]
Adam Crafton
late at halftime, they would scroll.
- [12:57]
Patrice Evra
Oh, yeah, yeah, I saw that. I saw that. I saw some players looking at halftime. You know what the people are saying about them. And I didn't get angry. I think this is the TikTok generation. I am on social media too. I have a lot of fun. This is a different generation. You know, before we were like football player. So you eat, you sleep football. Now they are athletes. Athlete is different than just a football player. And you know, they are like, they are like model, they're doing fashion, they are politician, they rapper. So it's so many distractions. But I don't blame them. Like I said, this is not my generation. But you won't have the same result. You won't have a player will play like, you know, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for so many years of consistency. I just feel like now you're going to have those young players, they're going to have like two, three season and they're going to be done because they're going to. The football is not their priority. But again, saying that is not blame them. This is the society that's the world changing.
- [13:57]
Adam Crafton
One of the. I mean, you said earlier that you had to kind of disassociate yourself, but I think apart from the obvious talent and success that you had in your career, you also had these moments where you really stood up for what you believed was right. In moments, whether that's 2010 World cup, the incident with. With Luis Suarez, the moment with the Marseille. In those moments, where did you find the courage to do that? Because I imagine it would have been quite lonely as well as Madame, you're right.
- [14:30]
Patrice Evra
But, you know, I come from a tough childhood. It wasn't easy. That's when I built my character and my personality. And I'm a human being. You know, whatever people will say, you know, I'm perfect to be imperfect. So I will do things where people will say, oh my God, you need to be punished and I will do good things. They will say it's the best. But at the end, I don't want to live my. My life without regret. So I always stood to what I am. I'm not black, I'm not white. I'm a human being. And I want to. To be a better human being every single day. But it's not easy. But the first things, it's not being selfish. I need to be myself, you know, keep my integrity. And that was my philosophy in life. That's the way my parents they educate me. Money, fame, that doesn't change me. You know, some people, they're like, oh, my God, Patrice, we talk with you and you know, you doesn't sound like a celebrity or you famous. I say, I'm a human being. You know, I know where I come from. So it's not because I own a lot of money and win many trophy, achieve lot of things, then I forget where I come from. So I always be myself. You can judge me. I will never judge other people. I am myself. I have no hate in my heart. And trust me, people hurt me a lot in my life, but I never have any hate in my heart. And I just want to stay positive. And that's the message I spread. That's the awareness I spread all around the world. You know, going through my social media.
- [16:05]
Adam Crafton
Yeah, one of the.
- [16:07]
Patrice Evra
The.
- [16:08]
Adam Crafton
I suppose the most powerful controversial moments of this season was very recently with Benfica and Real Madrid. And we saw Vinicius. I'm only asking you this because you're one of the few players who has had a similar situation on the field and reported it and has been through what Vinicius now goes through, where there is the denial. And it's difficult for cameras to necessarily proof definitively what has happened. And I'm just like you to take me into the mind of what that feels like, where you've got those denials coming from people.
- [16:49]
Patrice Evra
I think, Adam, you're correct again. Racism is bigger than football. Football is a good platform to stop it, but it won't stop now. When I was the age of 17, you know, I was in Italy and I was the only color player, you know, playing in the league. Even in the old Sicily, I think, and every time I've got the ball, they were doing the monkey nose or throw me banana. But I will surprise you. It was some of my best moment early career in my life, because at the end it was ignorance. I don't think someone, you know, everyone born as a racist person, his education, where he's coming from, those moments you have in the pitch, especially the one with Luis Suarez, it was quite tough because you have one angel is like, patrice, don't do nothing. Because this is one of the biggest game watching in the world. You know, Liverpool, United States. And you got that demon like, punch him in the face. So you start talking to yourself. If you punch him, you're going to be the villain. You're going to show the bad example all around the world in front of so many people watching the game. Then you have to contain yourself. That's what happened to me. I was really proud because I didn't react. Then of course we did the report and the next day was like breaking news all over the news. I didn't want this attention. And like I say when I defend my case, I was like, I don't know Luis Suarez, close enough to call him a racist. I just say that moment he used some racist words. And after, of course we know I win the case or whatever. But when I play against Luis Suarez in the final of Champions League, Marcelona, Juventus, I shook his hands at the end. You know, you can't control that. You can't control that. But it's sad, you know, Vinicius have to still go on and on and on about it. Now I feel is he's the man targeted. That's what he will feel. This is the authority. I think this is not just about football. This is the society he needs to be condemned as a crime. And you know, I feel like I'm really positive person. But we got still a lot of work to do. Lot of work to do. But when those things happen, you feel like injustice because even sometimes you are the one, you know, say what happened and people will say you're playing the victim. You know, that's, that's the things that like happened with Lesoy and that's now what happened with, with Vinicius. People will complain about more about his attitude. So why he's dancing, why he's provocating. So they already give an excuse to a person to. To kill him. Like few names just because he's dancing when he score a goal. So the freedom is over. We, you know, the FIFA always wanted me to do those campaigns say no to racism. I never get involved because we need to take the matter more seriously, you know. But again, football is a good platform to reduce it, but it's not the answer. The answer is the society and we need the law. The law. We need like to punish them. But again, the punishment is a solution. I don't know, I don't believe in that. I was always saying I could sit with a racist person and understand where he come from. Like I say, this is the start. That's why I'm involving a lot of education and you know, meeting kids or whatever because I want to understand where he come from. You don't wake up as a racist person. And it's going both way. You can be Asian and racist, you can be black and racist, you can be white and racist. You know, it's not about one side. It just exists and you know, it's many years, many years ago. We're still on it.
- [20:36]
Athletic FC Host (Ayo Akimolere)
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- [21:47]
TurboTax Announcer
It's that time of year again for taxes. We all know the stress of the old way of filing. You send your documents off and then absolute radio silence. You're stuck refreshing your inbox and sending awkward just checking in texts, wondering if they've even started. But with TurboTax Expert full service I know my TurboTax Expert takes taxes fully off my plate and updates me every step of the way so I don't have to worry. That way I can get back to the things that matter to me, like going on vacation in the spring or enjoying the NFL off season. So stop chasing updates. It's time to switch to the modern tax filing Solution with Intuit TurboTax. The best part? You can get Experts progress right on your phone while you go about your day. So go for a run or grab a coffee. You'll know your dedicated expert is handling it, looking for every last deduction to get you the best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve. File with confidence. Visit turbotax.com Only available with TurboTax Full Service Experts Real time updates only in iOS mobile app with almost half a million customers and over a trillion dollars of secure payments, Bill isn't new to intelligent finance. It's the proven way to simplify bill pay and maximize cash flow. Want to learn more? Visit bill.comproven for a special offer.
- [23:10]
Adam Crafton
To talk a little bit about Manchester United. Could you have imagined when Sir Alex left in 2013 that it would be. That we would be talking 13 years on and the club would not have even really competed for a Premier League title.
- [23:29]
Patrice Evra
I blame myself, I blame Ferguson and I tell him to have left. We leave the club for different reason but I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised. I think when someone come after the best manager in the world, Sir Alex Ferguson, he will always be a tough job again. I think the football industry changed business first instead of result. And when Ferguson was here you can manage both sides. So this is the truth. After we do like some disaster recruitment, David Moyes came in charge. Maybe you know, the suit was too big for him. I tried my best to help him but after he was too late and I left for Juventus. But no, I know we will struggle. Listen, Even Liverpool wait 30 years before they win the Premier League. I think we are like at 13. I don't want to wait that long. It's already, you know, really painful to to watch United but now with Michael Carrick at least we can dream of a Champions League spot. And I know it's really difficult for me to say that because when I was at United the goal, not the dream was to win four trophy per season. And now, you know, I'm back to the reality is to get just a Champions League sport. Yeah, a lot of things change but doesn't matter. I will be red for life. It's a tough moment and I'm supporting Carrick 100%.
- [25:01]
Adam Crafton
Tell me about Michael Carrick as a person, as a character in the locker room. What did you see from him?
- [25:08]
Patrice Evra
A smart person, just smart. I think as a player he's such underrated actually you know, you have those kind of midfield like Michael Carrick, they will go through those line doing that pass, you know, inside foot. But really strong people. You know, I know we talk about Paul Schole, we talk about Lampard, about Steven Gerard, but Michael Carrick was a key role in our team. But as a, as a person it doesn't surprise me. He's the same as you're seeing, you know as a manager. He's always calm, he's never panic, efficient. People can talk a lot about him or whatever or you, you say he's the worst midfield or he's the best midfield. He will do just do his job. When you have player like Carrick in Your team, in the group, you, you have like, how to say in. You feel relaxed. That's what I feel when I'm with Michael Carrick, I feel relaxed, I feel safe.
- [26:03]
Adam Crafton
Would you give him the job?
- [26:05]
Patrice Evra
You know, people are like, are we getting the job or no? Like I said earlier on in interview, I'm leaving the present. The present is doing what you're doing. Then after that we have plenty of time. And it's not my responsibility, it's the club responsibility. That's why when I saw this pundit and fighting about, he should get the job, he should not get the job. Who are you? Who are you to decide that? Focus on the present. Be behind him. He need to qualify a spot for the Champions League. And let's see, let's see. You know, people, sometimes you got something and some people want to get already rid of Michael Carrick. He don't have the experience, he don't have that. We do that during the past. We bring Mourinho, we bring Van Gaap and it didn't work. So now he's working. Let him finish. And after, we will see. You have to give a chance to everyone. Deserve it. Michael Carrick deserve it right now with what he have done, taking charge of the club, playing City, playing Arsenal and winning six points against them. Come on, guys, you, you know, think about the present. Give him the job. Now what he's doing. Then after we're going to do all the. He's the one, we need him to win trophy. We need this. No, we need him right now to win game.
- [27:22]
Adam Crafton
I wanted to ask you a little bit about, I mean, some of your, some of your best and also most like, I imagine most challenging nights at United. If you think about the first of all the 2008 final in the Champions League which, which you won. That's the Champions League final that you won. And also the semi final before that where you, Mark Messi and I imagine that was a huge, huge jump for you on the night. You just talk a bit about how confident the team was before those games, how you felt the plan worked.
- [27:59]
Patrice Evra
On the night, I think the 2008 semifinal against Barcelona. I didn't have choice to not be ready because the speech of Sir Alex Ferguson before the first leg in Camp Nou, I remember like it's yesterday, he said, guys, this is a big game, you know, but if we lose that game, I will blame Patricevra. Oh, I looked like he said yes because apparently you're playing against the best player in the world, Yonel Messi. Blah, blah, blah. If you don't stop him today, we're gonna all blame you. We lost the game because of you. So I was okay, first time playing against Messi. Thanks God, it went very well. And I was really strong the first leg and the second leg, of course we won and we reached the final. But this show you Ferguson expose you in front of everyone to see if you are ready. Because after that first leg, I could see in the eyes of Gary Neville, all the other players, the respect. Okay, now we got a full back. He can manage to play against players like Lionel Messi. So this is Sir Alex Ferguson managing people and character. He will expose you, you are ready, then you will stay on the team. You're not ready, then he will find someone else. So I passed the test and it was great. It was great and great. Goal of Paul Schol, you know, in Old Trafford. And we get to the final and again, I think this is one of the best speech before a game because Ferguson didn't even talk about football. He said, guys, I remember we were in Moscow. He said, guys, I'm already one. You know, look at this. 24 different nationalities in this dressing room. And he start going, you know, each player by what story, what's life they have to get through. So he said, imagine Patrice Evra, his dad and his mom have to feed 24 brothers and sister, bringing them food on the plate. Then Ren Rooney living in, you know, in Liverpool, Carlos Tevez in Buenos Aires, Anderson in the favelas. And he was like, guys, just go outside and enjoy. I already won. You come from so far. So that's why I say Ferguson is the greatest manager in the world. And at the end we enjoy, you know, we enjoy those finals. And of course we lost the final against Barcelona. But this was the same speech before the game.
- [30:25]
Adam Crafton
Is there anything you look back at from 2009, 2011 finals against Barcelona, where you. Where you think we could have done this or we could have done that?
- [30:34]
Patrice Evra
2009, the only things. And I put myself first. We should have not be arrogant. That's it. I think we. We were too confident. Compared to 2008, we were ready. 2009, we were like, there's no chance Barcelona going to beat us. No chance. I remember even after the game, I was still thinking, I was dreaming. And they battered us. They battered us. But if you see the first 10 minutes, Gerard Piquet make a save on the line and everything. We were like bad to them. And Guardiola made a. I think he made a document. I Think on. On documentary on Netflix where he said he have to swap Messi with Samuel ETO because Ronaldo and I, we were like attacking like crazy on the left side. Then after I think 10 minutes, he make that switch. And I remember Samuel was following me everywhere. And as an attacking fullback, I get just frustrated. I just get frustrated. So tactically they were better than us. Then after they start doing this Tiki Taka and it was impossible to get the ball back. But I think we just didn't work that final tactically because we were 100% we're going to win the 2011, the one in Wembley. It was more complicated. I think even myself, I didn't have a great game, but it was too much emotion on that game, especially to see Thierry Henry maybe will be able to win his first Champions League. But the biggest story was Eric Abidal, when he had this concept during the Euros. And I went to see him in Barcelona and I couldn't believe the state he was. And sending me pictures. Oh, I start walking. Oh, I start riding the bike in the mountain. Oh, I start training with the team. It's the only final I lost. When I saw Eric Abidal lifting the trophy, I smiled. I smiled because this was the biggest, bigger than a Champions League final. And he's like my brother. I saw him, like, suffering and I couldn't believe. But yeah, at the end, for all the United fans, for myself, of course I was disappointed. But my mind wasn't on the pitch, that final. My mind wasn't on the pitch. 2009, just arrogant. 2000. I think it's 10 or 11. My mind was just not on the pitch.
- [32:53]
Adam Crafton
Because of Abidal or because of.
- [32:55]
Patrice Evra
Because of Abidal? Because of the day. I don't know. It was weird playing a final in UK because we play in this stadium for the FA cup and Scarling cup, whatever. I don't know. It was weird for me to be in UK and playing a Champions League final. And so normally you should be like, so excited. That's the, you know, the league where you play. But it feel like a normal game. It feel like a normal game even if he was like Wembley.
- [33:24]
Adam Crafton
Yeah, you were big friends with Tevez and he went to Juventus as well. And you were together. How did you let him go to City?
- [33:32]
Patrice Evra
And it was painful, man. I was just with Tevez a week ago in Buenos Aires. We went to visit him with Jason Park. Tevez is a brother. But that's. Yeah, it was a breaking heart. I couldn't believe it because again, he was after the 2009 final and you know, he didn't play and they have a beef with Ferguson. Tevez was like, they didn't offer me nothing. But, you know, let's see, take a plane, come by and I saw in holiday, boom, Tevez is joining Manchester City. I call him, I said, I'm going to kill you. I'm going to break your leg. I'm going to break your leg. Little whatever la pache or whatever. This was like too painful. And yeah, it was difficult to swallow, but I think this was a payback to Sir Alex Ferguson. I think that move was more a payback for Sir Alex Ferguson. And that's why I was disappointed because at the end, you will never know the true story. But we paid a price heavily because if Tevez didn't sign for City, I don't think they will even start winning one league. Because you remember when, you know, he had this issue and he went to play golf in the middle of the season and City was crap. We were like so celebrating. I was like, please, Carnito, stay in holiday. Enjoy. Don't come back. And when he come back, I think his first, first game was an hat trick. Yeah, it's tough. You feel betrayed. But at the end, he's still my brother and, you know, you have to respect his choice.
- [35:10]
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- [36:11]
Patrice Evra
hablas espanol par Liano. If you've used Babbel, you would Babbel's conversation based technique teaches you useful words and phrases to get you speaking quickly about the things you actually talk about in the real world. With lessons handcrafted by over 200 language experts and voiced by real native speakers, Babbel is like having a private tutor in your pocket. Start speaking with Babbel today. Get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription right now at babbel.com acast spelled B-A B B E L.com acast rules and restrictions may apply.
- [36:49]
Verizon/Best Western Advertiser
Think Verizon is expensive? Think again. Anyone can bring their AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal. So bring us your bill. Walk in running pogo stickin', teleport if you can ride on the back of a rollerblading yak or flyin on the wings of a majestic falcon. Any way you can bring your AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal on the best Network based on RouteMetric's best overall mobile network performance US 2nd half 2025 all rights preserved must provide a very recent postpaid consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.
- [37:26]
Adam Crafton
And just to finish off going conscious of the time to go back to the start a little bit, I read that you're now training five times a week to be to do mma. Is this correct?
- [37:38]
Patrice Evra
Yeah, it was correct now because my fight didn't happen. It was supposed to happen last year so I'm not training again yet.
- [37:46]
Adam Crafton
This was to be competitive, real professional MMA or amateur.
- [37:51]
Patrice Evra
It was like to start amateur and I had like three fight on it and after maybe to getting like serious because like I say is a sport I respect, I didn't want to do it just to go viral or whatever. It's just the discipline, training the MMA style is still part of my life. You know actually it was every day. It was five hours per day, not like five times per week. So no it's five hours per day. You do two training sessions of two hours and a half. So it was massive. I learned a lot about it. I will train again. Khabib supposed to do like some training session with him. He love me but I just feel when I'm gonna train with him he's gonna kill me. So it's a strange kind of love. You know. Every time he texts me send me your location, you need to go back to train and whatever. So I'M not sure about that training with Khabib, but it's something I really enjoy because it's like a chess game. People think it's just violent or whatever, but it's a lot of things to learn about it.
- [38:55]
Adam Crafton
And finally, what's the relationship with Sir Alex like now? Is that still. Are you still in touch, do you
- [39:01]
Patrice Evra
think he's my boss. Someone have to call him and tell him he's not my boss. So Alexson is someone. I heard about him, like, at least three or four times per month. No, he's like a dad. He's like a dad. I mean, he's bigger than football. But, yeah, when I come, he came to visit me in Dubai and it was traffic, he was late, and he was in front of the hotel waiting like this with his watch was like, patrice, you're five minutes late. I say, you know, boss, I call you boss by respect, but you're not my boss anymore, so chill out. Yeah, for sake.
- [39:36]
Adam Crafton
How did you feel when he told you he was leaving? How did you feel that day?
- [39:40]
Patrice Evra
Oh, man. Driving my car, like, I think my car was in auto drive. This moment, I couldn't believe because one week before that, and I say it, I went to Ferguson office. He said, Patrice, 99%. Cristiano Ronaldo is coming, and I'm going to bring Gareth Bell, too. And those people think I'm going to retire, but I'm going to retire when I'm maybe 100 years old. So that's why for me, I couldn't understand. And after, you know, so many things happened. But I remember he was asking 200 million to buy those two players because his goal wasn't to win the Premier League. Every time. It was like to catch up with Liverpool and winning the European Cup. So big shock when I arrived the morning I saw, we had a meeting in dressing room and Ferguson came and he wasn't with his tracksuit. I said, this is a bad news. All players going to get killed or something gonna happen. And yeah, he said, like, I'm retired. I still think he was a joke. And he will, you know, change his mind. But it was too late because the
- [40:50]
Adam Crafton
story that summer was that Wayne Rooney would leave and Bale and Ronaldo might come.
- [40:55]
Patrice Evra
I don't know about. About Waza leaving, but for sure, Belle and Cristiano and Cristiano agree 99% he was coming back.
- [41:04]
Adam Crafton
Wow. It's always about the 1%. The 1% is the most important.
- [41:08]
Patrice Evra
It's always about the 1 percent. And after, of course, maybe I don't know, maybe they didn't give the money enough to Ferguson to buy those players. Now since he left, I think we spent more than a billion. I don't think those 200 million were a big deal for those kind of two big players. But this is life. This is football for sure.
- [41:29]
Adam Crafton
Patrice, thank you so much for your time and I hope you enjoy your time in Arizona as well.
- [41:34]
Patrice Evra
Thank you, Adam. Bye bye.
- [41:40]
Athletic FC Host (Ayo Akimolere)
You've been listening to the Athletic FC Podcast. The producers were Guy Clark, Mike Stavroot and Jay Beal with editing by Paul Iliff and Nick Thompson. The executive producer is Adie Moorhead. To listen to other great athletic podcasts for free, including our dedicated club shows. Search for the Athletic Wherever you get your podcasts, you'll also find us on YouTube at the Athletic FC Podcast, so make sure you subscribe the Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company Production.
- [42:19]
Verizon/Best Western Advertiser
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- [43:20]
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- [43:48]
Patrice Evra
Learn more@parloa.com.