Fergie: Evra's the best in the business

Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Patrice Evra as the best left-back in the world and identified him as Manchester United's unsung hero this season.

While Wayne Rooney has taken all the plaudits for his 34-goal heroics, United boss Fergie singled out Evra as his most consistent performer this term.

Evra, who has played in every one of United's Premier League games this season, beat Chelsea and England left-back Ashley Cole to be named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Although Cole is widely regarded as the most accomplished left-back in world football, Evra's fellow professionals gave him the nod ahead of the Chelsea and England star.

And United boss Fergie claimed no other Premier League player had come close to matching the French international for consistency of performance this season.

"The form of Evra has been sensational all season," said Fergie. There's no-one near Evra's consistency. No-one.

"He's the one player who has not missed any games. He's only not started one Premier League game all season.

"We rested him at Blackburn because he I think he needed a break then, but he came on as a sub there and has done tremendously well since then.

"If you look at the rest of our back four, it's all been scattered appearances.

"With that in mind, we've done remarkably well to still be in the picture despite the handicap of our back-four players being injured."

With Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Gary Neville and Rafael Da Silva all sidelined at some stage this season, Evra has been the one constant for United.

Evra won the penalty that set United on their way to a crucial 3-1 win over Tottenham last weekend, with a typical attacking run, before being forced off after being sick on the pitch.

The 28-year-old had been struggling with a bug in the build-up to the Spurs game, but Fergie said it was a measure of Evra's dependability that he insisted on playing for United.

"Evra was sick at half-time and eventually we had to take him off because the problem was dehydration," said Fergie.

"We had a bit of sickness with two or three players but Patrice felt okay to play and wanted to play."

Patrice: We'll win the league

Patrice Evra was bitterly disappointed to go out of Europe on Wednesday night, but now says he’s “ready to fight” for the Barclays Premier League title.

The Frenchman says he couldn’t bring himself to turn on the television or read any press following United’s Champions League exit, a result he admits “was a big shock”.

“I never expected we’d go out in that way,” he said. “But if we’re out of Europe it’s because we didn’t deserve to go through.

“I hear a lot of people are blaming Rafael but I can’t believe that. He’s only a young player. Okay, he was sent off, but Manchester United can win matches with 10 men. If you need to blame someone then blame the team. Maybe we didn’t do our job properly in the first leg.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson often stresses the importance of bouncing back after disappointment and Evra wasted little time dwelling on the Reds’ European heartache.

“I was very upset on Wednesday night, but when I woke up the next day I said to myself: ‘Pat, you have the privilege to win the league again, for the fourth time in a row’.

“And I’m not saying that just to look good in an interview. I truly believe this. I was sad on Wednesday but now I’m okay: I’m ready for the fight.

“Manchester United have to win five games in a row. Is that difficult? I don’t think so. I think we can do that, but the only way we will do that is by showing spirit. When Manchester United play with the right spirit, nobody can beat us.

“The only satisfaction I had after going out to Bayern Munich was the spirit we showed – we started the match with so much hunger. This is key for the end of the season. You need to have that hunger.

“At the end of the season I might regret the way we threw our Champions League chance away, but now is not the time for regrets. Now it’s about fighting and playing with heart. Winning the league will be difficult, but I’m confident.”

Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra Stats
-Full Name: Patrice Latyr Evra
-Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal
-Date of Birth: 15/05/1981
-Height: 173cm (5ft 8ins)
-Weight: 166lbs (11st 12lbs)
-Position: Full back, L.Wing
-Squad Number: 3
International Football
France (2004 -)

Introduction
Patrice Evra is a truly dynamic Left Back who's equally adept at defending as well as bombing forward and supporting the attack. He's extremely athletic and his pace and acceleration are exceptional. In fact I would go as far as saying that Patrice Evra is the complete full-back and what he lacks in stature he makes up with great courage and a superb spring.

Early Career
The young Patrice Evra embarked on the footballing road to stardom by turning out for Paris St-Germain's youth team as a striker. He never received an official players contract at the Parc des Princes and was eventually signed by Scicilian side Marsala, Where he continued playing as a striker scoring just six goals in his one and only season at the club.

The following season the "Black Gazelle" as the Marsala fans nicknamed him, moved to Serie B side Monza, making a paltry 3 league appearances and needless to say failing to get on the scoresheet.

The limited opportunities he was afforded at Monza led Patrice Evra into returning back to France after just two years in Italy, signing for Ligue 2 outfit, Nice. In his early at the club he was forced to play at Left Back due to the mounting injuries at the Stade Municipal du Ray. Needless to say, Evra took to his new position like the proverbial 'Duck to Water' and was named Ligue 2's best left back in the French end of season awards.

AS Monaco
Patrice Evra's performances caught the eye of Monaco boss Didier Deschamps, who moved swiftly to sign the Senegal born player for an undisclosed fee.

Now at his fourth club in just 3 years Patrice Evra quickly claimed the left back slot as his own and in his first season at Monaco he reached the 2004 European Champions League final, losing 3-0 to Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.

After his high ocatane displays in the Champions League; at the age of 23 the player was called up to the French national side by coach Jaques Santini. Although only winning 11 caps in four years, Evra started 2 of France's group games during their ill fated Euro 2008 campaign, replacing Bracelona's Eric Abidal after his poor showing against Romania.

During the early part of the 2005-06 season it waas clear that Patrice Evra had completed his transformation from far from prolific striker, to dominant defender when Deschamps named him captian on numerous occasions.

Manchester United Career
During the 2006 January English transfer window Alex Ferguson splashed out £5.5m to bring the defender to Old Trafford on a 3 1/2 year contract, just five days after the club had signed combative centre back, Nemanja Vidic.

Sir Alex Ferguson saw the new Manchester United recruit as the ideal cover for the side-lined Gabriel Heinze, giving Patrice his debut four days later in the 3-1 defeat to inter-city rivals Manchester City. However, the player struggled to adapt to the ferocity of the encounter and was replaced at half-time by Irishmann John O'Shea.

After the defender's poor showing in the Derby a few pundits and fans alike began to question Fergie's judgement in signing such a "light-weight" player in a rough and tumble league such as the English topflight. But as many times beforehand, Sir Alex proved his doubters wrong as Patrice Evra got better and better with each game, eventually ousting Gabriel Heinze as Manchester United's first choice left-back.

On 29 November 2006 in the home Premier League match against North West rivals Everton, Evra scored his first goal for the club, which helped his team-mates to a vital 3-0 victory.

In the 2007-08 season Evra was a vital part of the Premier League and European Champions League double winning side, forming a tremendous defensive quintet with Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand who helped themselves to amazing 31 clean-sheets during the campaign.

Patrice Evra Honours
-Monaco
-Coupe de la Ligue: 2002-03
-Ligue 1: Runner Up 2002-03
-UEFA Champions League: Runner Up 2004

-Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-2009
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-League Cup: 2006

-Carling Cup: 2008-2009
-FIFA Club World Cup 2008

-Carling Cup:2009-2010

Patrice Evra Personal Honours
PFA Team of the Year: 2007