In a recent interview, Manchester United legend Evra revealed bits and pieces of that Manchester City Derby when he first stepped onto the United stage and looked ahead to the future of the team with Amorim at the helm.
Referring to that debut, Evra recalled, "The 12 noon start that day was a challenge for me. I was a veteran who was used to going to bed late and waking up late, but I was forced to share a bowl of spaghetti with Sylvester at 9 a.m., and a vomiting session ensued. I didn't think I was going to be able to make it to the game, but luck was on my side and I was able to make it to the game. In hindsight, that would have been an allergy, and how could I have given up on this debut so easily at the time?"
Evra described the game as a "disaster": City took special care of the new star, and Sinclair's long passes left Evra scrambling for two goals. At halftime, Sir Alex Ferguson's ranting put pressure on Evra, and his words still ring in our ears: "Evra! That's enough! You can sit down and watch the game now and learn English soccer again in another game!" Evra accepted the decision in silence, knowing full well that he was not playing well at the time.
Evra's overall feelings about that debut were heavy: "Vidic also had his debut but stayed on the pitch. We ended up losing 1-3 and my manager Luca and wife were on the sidelines to witness my near breakdown. It wasn't sadness, but disappointment in my own form and heart."
Talking about the new manager Amorim, Evra expressed his sincere wishes: "I expect Amorim to have a more glorious experience than me. Manchester United's last season wasn't as good as it could have been, but we ended up winning the FA Cup final. Amorim led Sporting Portugal to beat Manchester City in the Champions League, but it's a different challenge today. It's a challenging road and I'm looking forward to seeing the streets full of red shirts on Monday. Fans won't be forgiving of players who aren't motivated, hustling and giving their all. You can't give up easily, even if you're not in good form."
