Patrice Evra has revealed he has immersed himself in books and DVDs to learn more about United's rich history.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has become Sir Alex Ferguson's first-choice left-back since joining from Monaco nearly two years ago. Evra says an important part of settling into his surroundings was learning about United's past.
"I joined a club that has such a strong identity so I had to learn it," he told France Football. "I watched many cassettes, DVDs of Eric Cantona and have translated a lot of books. Now when an ex-player shakes hands with me, I know who he is."
Ferbruary's 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash is on the horizon, and learning about the tragedy has given Evra a better understanding of the fabric of the club.
"[Learning about] the plane crash in 1958 moved me," he said. "When I take the plane with Bobby Charlton, I ask myself, ’how can he do it after what he has been through?’.
"I have more and more respect for this shirt. I advise everybody to be interested in his club, to identify yourself to it, it helped me."
Read more...
Custom Search
Monday, October 15, 2007
'Lion' Tevez thanks Sir Alex
Carlos Tevez feels he is settling in to life at Old Trafford thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson and his team-mates making him feel at home.
Tevez has gradually settled into United's team and the 23-year-old is now proving a big hit with fans for being skilful and tenacious in equal measure. Goals against Chelsea and Wigan are merely confirmation of his arrival on the big stage.
"The help I've had from Sir Alex is very important," he told The Sun. "I know he has total belief in me and I'm very grateful to him. Sir Alex knows a lot about football and I'm learning from him. He makes me feel relaxed and valued."
The Reds boss described the Argentina striker as being "brave as a lion", but it isn't just his courageousness that has drawn such comparisons. "He called me a lion, and he's started doing it at training as well," revealed Tevez. "I turn up just after getting out of bed with my hair all messed up. And when my hair is like that, I look like a lion apparently!”
His team-mates have also provided inspiration on the pitch and support off it. "When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates, I realise I'm at one of the most important clubs in the world,” he added. “That's a dream come true.
"The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars, they're all really humble and good people. I've now got various friends in the squad like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. I'm doing quite well with my English now. I understand the boss and my team-mates perfectly." Read more...
Tevez has gradually settled into United's team and the 23-year-old is now proving a big hit with fans for being skilful and tenacious in equal measure. Goals against Chelsea and Wigan are merely confirmation of his arrival on the big stage.
"The help I've had from Sir Alex is very important," he told The Sun. "I know he has total belief in me and I'm very grateful to him. Sir Alex knows a lot about football and I'm learning from him. He makes me feel relaxed and valued."
The Reds boss described the Argentina striker as being "brave as a lion", but it isn't just his courageousness that has drawn such comparisons. "He called me a lion, and he's started doing it at training as well," revealed Tevez. "I turn up just after getting out of bed with my hair all messed up. And when my hair is like that, I look like a lion apparently!”
His team-mates have also provided inspiration on the pitch and support off it. "When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates, I realise I'm at one of the most important clubs in the world,” he added. “That's a dream come true.
"The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars, they're all really humble and good people. I've now got various friends in the squad like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. I'm doing quite well with my English now. I understand the boss and my team-mates perfectly." Read more...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Tevez ecstatic with life at Old Trafford
Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has revealed the positive effect his team-mates have had on his game and that signing for Sir Alex Ferguson's side is a 'dream come true'.
Powered by: Insweb.com
The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford in the summer from West Ham where he took a long time to find his form after his surprise arrival in August 2006.
However, he has had no such problems adapting to life with the Red Devils and having a manager like Ferguson has contributed to that.
'The main difference between United and West Ham is that the coach believes in me at my new club,' Tevez told The Sun. 'I'm feeling physically stronger with every game. That makes me feel good and everything else, like scoring goals, comes as a result.
'When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates there, I realise I'm at one of the most important clubs in the world. That is a dream come true. The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars, they are all actually really humble and are good people.
'They've made me feel good and I've now got various friends in the squad like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
'I'm doing quite well with my English now. I understand the boss and my team-mates perfectly.' Read more...
Powered by: Insweb.com
The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford in the summer from West Ham where he took a long time to find his form after his surprise arrival in August 2006.
However, he has had no such problems adapting to life with the Red Devils and having a manager like Ferguson has contributed to that.
'The main difference between United and West Ham is that the coach believes in me at my new club,' Tevez told The Sun. 'I'm feeling physically stronger with every game. That makes me feel good and everything else, like scoring goals, comes as a result.
'When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates there, I realise I'm at one of the most important clubs in the world. That is a dream come true. The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars, they are all actually really humble and are good people.
'They've made me feel good and I've now got various friends in the squad like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
'I'm doing quite well with my English now. I understand the boss and my team-mates perfectly.' Read more...
Friday, October 12, 2007
Edwin out of action
Edwin van der Sar is the latest confirmed casualty ahead of the next round of Euro 2008 qualifiers, with the Reds' goalkeeper pulling out of Holland's squad on Thursday.
Despite injuring his toe in United's 1-0 win at Birmingham City and missing the Reds' recent clashes with AS Roma and Wigan, van der Sar linked up with the Dutch national team earlier this week in the hope of being fit for Saturday's Group G meeting with Romania.
But the 36-year-old couldn't shake off the injury and will now focus his energies on making his United comeback at Villa Park on Saturday 20 October.
"This is a pity," Holland manager Marco van Basten told the Dutch press. "He is an important player, our captain." Read more...
Despite injuring his toe in United's 1-0 win at Birmingham City and missing the Reds' recent clashes with AS Roma and Wigan, van der Sar linked up with the Dutch national team earlier this week in the hope of being fit for Saturday's Group G meeting with Romania.
But the 36-year-old couldn't shake off the injury and will now focus his energies on making his United comeback at Villa Park on Saturday 20 October.
"This is a pity," Holland manager Marco van Basten told the Dutch press. "He is an important player, our captain." Read more...
Ferguson can't wait for qualifiers to end
Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced the Barclays Premier League title race will really start to take shape once the battle to reach Euro 2008 is over.
The Manchester United boss has seen his team record six successive wins after an initially slow start to the season - a run which has sent them flying into second spot in the table, just behind early pace-setters Arsenal.
Ferguson is hoping the current two-week break does not halt United's momentum before their trip to Aston Villa on October 20.
But the Red Devils chief is also aware it will not be long before he is losing his players again for a November double-header, during which qualification places for next summer's European Championships in Austria and Switzerland will be confirmed.
Only after that does Ferguson really feel the championship battle will begin to take shape.
'Most clubs, not just United, are finding it difficult to keep the continuity going when you lose your players for two weeks at a time,' he said.
'It is important for the national teams, so you have to support it. But the advantage is that there is a clear run after November.'
England do have a confirmed friendly against France in March and are also expected to announce a February meeting with Switzerland in February, so the international diversions are not over for Ferguson just yet.
But non-competitive midweek internationals in the spring do not bring the same problems as the mass call-ups at present, which leave Ferguson with hardly any players to work with.
'There is a stupid friendly week in March, but I assume it will be limited teams because you are talking about a really important time of the season for league clubs,' added the United boss.
'Once this next international break is out of the road in November, there is a run to the end of the season. It will help with the consistency.' Read more...
The Manchester United boss has seen his team record six successive wins after an initially slow start to the season - a run which has sent them flying into second spot in the table, just behind early pace-setters Arsenal.
Ferguson is hoping the current two-week break does not halt United's momentum before their trip to Aston Villa on October 20.
But the Red Devils chief is also aware it will not be long before he is losing his players again for a November double-header, during which qualification places for next summer's European Championships in Austria and Switzerland will be confirmed.
Only after that does Ferguson really feel the championship battle will begin to take shape.
'Most clubs, not just United, are finding it difficult to keep the continuity going when you lose your players for two weeks at a time,' he said.
'It is important for the national teams, so you have to support it. But the advantage is that there is a clear run after November.'
England do have a confirmed friendly against France in March and are also expected to announce a February meeting with Switzerland in February, so the international diversions are not over for Ferguson just yet.
But non-competitive midweek internationals in the spring do not bring the same problems as the mass call-ups at present, which leave Ferguson with hardly any players to work with.
'There is a stupid friendly week in March, but I assume it will be limited teams because you are talking about a really important time of the season for league clubs,' added the United boss.
'Once this next international break is out of the road in November, there is a run to the end of the season. It will help with the consistency.' Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
