Evra: Room For Improvement

Manchester United stand-in skipper Patrice Evra admits the Reds need to improve next season, although is adamant there is no need for a mass overhaul of Sir Alex’s squad.

United lost the league title to neighbours City on goal difference, a shift in power in Manchester that has prompted some to suggest major personnel changes are required at Old Trafford.

But Evra insists there’s no need for kneejerk reactions... and trusts the manager to make the right decisions in the transfer market.

“We always need to improve,” he said. “I'm not crazy. Every player has to be better next season than we were this season, even if we haven't been as poor as a lot of people are saying. And yes, fans will want to see a few new players.

“But that's not my job. I trust totally in the boss. He'll do the right thing. There aren't many players who can play for Manchester United. It's not easy. But transfers are not my job. If we need players, the boss will make the best decision.

“What we have to do - the players who are already here - is try and improve and realise that it is always a privilege to play for Manchester United. We will make sure we work hard in pre-season and ensure we're ready for the next challenge.

"We killed ourselves this season when we were eight points clear with six points to go. To be winning 4-2 against Everton and then, in the last six minutes, end up with a draw at Old Trafford... I thought something like that wasn't possible.”

In the end, United took City right to the edge - to the final minutes of the season, in fact - before ultimately falling at the final hurdle.

And while Patrice admits there is only scant consolation in finishing second on goal difference rather than by 20 points - after all, it's still second - he says he’s proud of how the Reds kept pace with Roberto Mancini’s men during a season that was plagued by injuries and illness.

“Because we play for Manchester United, people will say we've had the worst season ever,” he said.

“But this is not the truth. This is not the reality. The season we've just finished has been a miracle.

“I don't want to try and find excuses, but I think it's a miracle we're still there at the top when you consider the problems we've had.

“Take Vincent Kompany out of Manchester City for most of the season and I want to see if they are still top of the league. That's what we've had to deal with in Nemanja Vidic.

"We've also lost a player like Darren Fletcher and Anderson as well. I had to play at centre-back against Wigan Athletic with Michael Carrick. Those are all facts.

“Still, after all that, we're nine points better than last season, so we've done well. You have to give credit to City for doing even better.”

Ultimately, though, it’s the lofty standards Manchester United have set in the past that dictate how harshly the Reds are now judged.

“People will say bad things about United and we accept that - they say that because they want to see United win every year. Even with myself I feel like I've done poorly this season because I haven't won a league title. But at the end of the day that's not the truth.

“We only think we've failed because we haven't won and winning is the Manchester United spirit, it's the Manchester United way.

“If I played for another team then maybe we'd say to ourselves, ‘Well done for coming second, you've had a good season’. We might even celebrate.

“But when you play for United you have to accept that you have pressure to win every year, no matter what happens to you along the way. It doesn't matter if you've only got one leg, you have to win.”

Patrice Evra was talking to ManUtd.com, PA Sport and BBC Radio Manchester.