‘I don’t think he is a great person’ - Patrice Evra reignites feud with Pep Guardiola

The former Manchester United full-back didn’t hold back when asked about the Manchester City manager.
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Patrice Evra has reignited his ongoing feud with Pep Guardiola after claiming on Saturday he doesn’t think the Manchester City manager is ‘that great a person’.

The ex-defender has become embroiled in a war of words with Guardiola, who recently claimed his Barcelona team ‘destroyed’ Evra’s Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League.

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But in a scathing response to the 51-year-old’s comments, Evra claimed this triumph was only because he had Xavi, Andreas Iniesta and Lionel Messi at his disposal, and was keen to point out that the 51-year-old hasn’t won the competition since managing that trio.

Evra was speaking to ManchesterWorld after playing in the United Legends game against Liverpool on Saturday, which finished 3-1 to the visitors at Old Trafford and raised over £1.3m for the Manchester United Foundation.

Evra was back at Old Trafford on Saturday, participating in a charity game. Credit: Getty.Evra was back at Old Trafford on Saturday, participating in a charity game. Credit: Getty.
Evra was back at Old Trafford on Saturday, participating in a charity game. Credit: Getty.

But Evra was is in a less friendly mood following the game when he was asked about his disagreement with Guardiola.

“I didn’t understand to be honest. I am not watching much of the media, and then a friend sends me Guardiola talking about ‘maybe Patrice Evra wants a job’ and then after ‘we destroyed them with Barcelona’,” the Frenchman told ManchesterWorld.

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“I was working for Amazon Prime and I just said playing under Guardiola, when you have personality, it must be difficult, when you have ego. I am talking about players when they played with him and they always say he has been a problem.

“What I said was nice, but now if you want to go talk, I will go talk. I don’t see any City player [who acts] like they love him. He is a genius, but as a person, I don’t know him personally, but the feedback I’ve got, I don’t think he is that great [of a] person.

Guardiola was angered by Evra’s suggestion his City team lack characters. Credit: Getty.Guardiola was angered by Evra’s suggestion his City team lack characters. Credit: Getty.
Guardiola was angered by Evra’s suggestion his City team lack characters. Credit: Getty.

“That’s why I was surprised he even had time to answer to Patrice Evra, I am a retired player, I am doing my job. I was a little surprised.

“But me, I am always happy, I don’t have any hate in my heart. But when people want to do some banter, I am ready for that.

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“By the way, he wins [the Champions League] because he had Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Of course you’re going to win the Champions League. But since he don’t have them, it is a long time ago he won the Champions League.”

How did this war of words begin?

This long-running argument all began following City’s collapse to Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month, after which Evra claimed Guardiola ‘doesn’t want leaders’ in his team.

Evra began this spat with comments he made to Amazon Prime. Credit: Getty.Evra began this spat with comments he made to Amazon Prime. Credit: Getty.
Evra began this spat with comments he made to Amazon Prime. Credit: Getty.

“He chooses his teams like that – he can’t train people with personality. He did it at Barcelona, but he builds his teams to control everyone. When things go wrong, he always decides,” the 41-year-old said at the time.

But a disgruntled Guardiola responded by saying he didn’t agree. “I need personalities and good players to play on the pitch,” claimed the Catalan in a pre-match press conference.

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“I have had nice, incredible players in my past as a manager at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here. I could give a good list in terms of their personality and character.

“Most of them have won World Cups, European [Championships], Champions Leagues and leagues. Maybe Evra is right or maybe he’s doing a good quote to come back to Manchester United to work there. Maybe there’s a good chance now.”

But Guardiola wasn’t done there and a few days later aimed another dig at Evra, along with Dimitar Berbatov and Clarence Seedorf, who also questioned his City team.

“I’ve played against them, and I didn’t see this kind of personality when we destroyed United in the Champions League final,” the City manager said after the recent 5-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Guardiola could offer a response on Sunday to Evra’s escalation in this exchange, when he will be questioned by the media following City’s title-deciding clash with Aston Villa.

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