Evra Embraces Left-back Battle

Patrice Evra insists he will never take his place in the team for granted despite being a virtual ever-present for the last few seasons.

The Frenchman has topped the appearance charts for near enough the last five seasons and established himself as one of the best left-backs in the game. The recent arrival of Alexander Büttner has brought both cover and extra competition for the position which Evra insists he is determined to hold on to.

"You have to fight for your place every day," he told PA Sport. "Last season I played a lot of games and maybe if I play well these days people just accept that as normal. But it is not normal playing well for United.

"When you play a bad game people criticise you too quickly. My target is simple: football is like a pyramid and I want to stay on the top. It is easy to reach the top of the pyramid but to stay there is the hardest part. I always try to stay on the top. I tried last year, I will try this year and the year after that. I have been really happy with my form. I am confident with myself and with my quality. I've been here six years and I want to be the best. That is my target every year.

"My biggest challenge is from myself," adds Evra. "I am not being arrogant but I am my biggest challenge. People forget very quickly how I got to become United’s left-back. There was Gabriel Heinze and Mikael Silvestre. When I hear people say Patrice never had someone to fight him for his place I just say they have to remember I fought with two great left-backs. They have bad memories!

"I will keep fighting, too. It is too easy for people to say that now we have bought another left-back, ‘Oh yes Patrice Evra will have to fight for his place now.’ Patrice Evra has always fought for his place. It doesn't matter if someone is there or if they're not, I will fight because you have to respect the shirt. When you play for Manchester United that is the big challenge."