Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has told the club's current crop of players they need to "bleed for this club".
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former France international spoke candidly about his recent experiences being back at the club completing his coaching badges.
The 38-year-old played at Old Trafford from 2006 to 2014, lining out almost 300 times for the club. Evra left United a season after Alex Ferguson stepped aside as manager, and retired fully from football himself in July after a career that included spells with Monaco, Juventus, Marseille, and West Ham United.
Left-back Evra spoke glowingly about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and urged the United fans to keep faith in the current manager.
"...I think Ole is a good appointment for the club. He knows the philosophy of the club.
"It's difficult when you come to Manchester United from the outside, people don't accept you straight away. You need to bleed for this club before people accept you.
"We are a big club. We want to win trophies. We don't want to spend more than 10 years without winning the league again. It's not easy but the fans have to believe - it's a process."
Patrice Evra says the current crop of Manchester United players need to "bleed for the club" before they are accepted by the fans.
More: https://t.co/EOhqrJLzyL pic.twitter.com/9UHQTZzIMw— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 17, 2019
The 81-times capped French international said he found it strange to leave United as a player because the club "feels like home."
"I left for personal reasons and joined a big club like Juventus. It was really weird for me in the first few months to wear their shirt.
"Even if I am a funny and positive guy, I was a little bit depressed for a few months. I couldn't accept the fact that I had to leave United. I'm a Mancunian and I'm happy to be home.
"When I'm back here it feels like home. Even if I have to finish as a groundsman, I will. United is in my DNA."
David de Gea signed a new contract extension with United yesterday, a move that will have delighted United fans.
The new deal keeps the Spaniard net-minder in Manchester until at least 2023, with the option of a further year, and Evra was delighted by the news.
"I'm not surprised David de Gea is doing well because mentally he is very strong after a tough start [to his career at Man Utd].
"I always wish that he is the best player in the world, but I never wish him to be the best player at Manchester United because that means something is wrong with my midfield, with my attack, with my defence.
"So, please David, win the best goalkeeper in the world but not the Player of the Year here!"
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