Evra Makes Promise To Fans

Patrice Evra cannot guarantee that his Manchester United team-mates will overcome Wednesday's Champions League opponents Olympiacos, but the French veteran has vowed to make the fans proud of the team's performance.

Lots has been written and said about David Moyes and his players following Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League, a hugely disappointing result against the club's fiercest rival.

Yet, rather than wallowing in self pity, Evra has called on the Reds to bounce back with a much-improved performance against the Greeks, who United must beat by three clear goals to reach the quarter-finals.

"When you win, you win together and when you lose, you lose together," Patrice said, when asked for his thoughts on the season. "It's been a difficult season for everyone. We're not used to losing games. We always win. Everybody wants to fight for this club, everyone loves this club.

"We know we had a bad game in the first leg. Even a three-year-old Manchester United fan will have been hurting from that performance. But in life you always have a second chance and we get that tomorrow tonight. I'm not God and telling you we will qualify tomorrow but I can promise you we will all fight and respect the shirt and make sure all the fans will be really proud of us after the game."

Evra has experience of overturning a first leg deficit at international level after France were beaten 2-0 by Ukraine in a World Cup play-off in November before sealing a triumphant 3-0 victory in the second leg at the Stade de France.

Asked if there are any similarities with that occasion, Patrice said: “You have to let the storm pass. We [France] didn't expect to lose 3-0 in Ukraine. After two days everyone was focused on the same goal and we stuck together. We played for the people we love - for family, for fans - and we gave everything.

“Like the manager [Moyes] says, it's really important we score early on Wednesday. When you come to Old Trafford and concede an early goal, it's difficult. I'm confident. I'm not selling a dream and saying we will definitely qualify. There are too many words right now. We just have to show on the pitch. That is most important.”

When pressed for an update on his future, Evra was keen to focus on matters at hand: “It's not a good day to talk about my future. The most important thing is the Manchester United future, not mine. I will give everything when I pull on the shirt. I want to show to my staff and team-mates that they can count on me. I want to be a good player and make sure Manchester United qualify. That's my only concern.”