Evans Up For The Fight

Jonny Evans refuses to acknowledge talk of any fatigue as United approach a crucial week in terms of glory at home and abroad.

The Reds tackle Everton on Sunday before travelling to Spain to face Real Madrid in the mouthwatering Champions League tie of the round.

Some pundits have intimated that a prolonged pursuit of the European Cup would hand Manchester City an advantage after they were knocked out of the competition, but the Northern Ireland international, who represented his country in Malta in midweek, thinks this is certainly not the case.

Despite a nine-point gap at the top of the Barclays Premier League, Evans insists the squad is fully focused on the task in hand against the Toffees, particularly considering recent results against David Moyes' men.

"We have been here before," he stated. "Last season, it was eight points and we let it out of our grasp. We have to make sure we pick up the three points against Everton and then go into the Champions League game which is coming into play.

"This period is always crucial for Manchester United. We like to be involved in every competition. It is better to be involved. Sometimes mentally, if you have a game and then don't have another one for a week, you switch off. When the games are coming thick and fast, you don't get a chance. You are constantly engrossed in all the games coming up.

"It is a benefit - the more games the better. It stops you from switching off. When you win one game, you want to win the next. It builds momentum."

Evans stresses that Sir Alex Ferguson is a master of being able to shuffle his pack for busy periods of the season and the players benefit from his careful management.

"My first season after being on loan [at Sunderland], we won the Carling Cup and the league and got to the Champions League final," he recalled. "That is what this squad is for. You generate momentum. At the time, I never thought there were so many games.

"We came through Christmas brilliantly. That is partly down to the squad and the manager being able to rotate the squad and having the confidence in the players so they don't feel as though they are fatiguing. They are always mentally prepared for all the games."

Despite Everton's impressive recent record against the Reds, there are no thoughts of revenge for Evans, merely respect at what Moyes has achieved at Goodison and the team he has built.

"I suppose you can go back through the whole league and look at games we slipped up on last year and say that game cost us," he said of the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. "I suppose at the time of the season, that game came up just before the City game, although you could look at that one and say City cost us because we lost away there.

"They have obviously improved. The matches against Everton over the time I have been involved in the first team here have always been tough. They work really hard and put lots of balls into the box. They have played Marouane Fellaini up front and other powerful people like Nikica Jelavic and Victor Anichebe. You always know you are in for a physical game from a defender's point of view. We know it won't be easy.

"They have added that attacking flair to their game. It has surprised a lot of people. As much as they are big and strong and put the balls into the box, they also have people who can hurt you on the floor. That has been the most impressive thing."