Patrice Evra confessed that being captain for Man Utd's Carling Cup victory has given him 'great pride.'
Frenchman honoured to follow in Cantona's footsteps
Patrice Evra has confessed that being named as captain for Manchester United's Carling Cup Final victory over Aston Villa has given him "great pride."
The 28-year-old, who was given his first taste of the United captaincy in a UEFA Champions League match against Wolfsburg, was chosen to lift the trophy for the club despite the presence of the likes of Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic on the field.
The Frenchman was pleased that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson handed him the opportunity and that it was an honour to follow in the footsteps of Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.
"Being the second Frenchman to lift a trophy for United, after Cantona, is a great pride," Evra told
L'Equipe.
"I want to thank the manager, the players and the staff. They believe I have the soul of a leader. I was not looking after that, but if I have been given the armband, I get it."
Praise
The full-back, who joined United in 2006 from Monaco, was full of praise for Ferguson and the relationship he has with the manager.
However, Evra was quick to point out how he can quickly feel the Scotsman's wrath should he not do his job properly.
"He told me: 'Pat, you are part of that team's leaders, you are my captain, it is up to you take on.' I was so proud," said Evra.
"We have a very good relationship, but don't talk about daddy's boy! As long as I do my job, we can laugh, but the day I miss a match, I get a hair dryer."
Distraction
Evra is almost certain to join up with the French squad to travel to the World Cup in June, but with the French Football Federation announcing that they would name the next manager of the side before the tournament begins is a decision he has struggled to understand.
Current coach Raymond Domenech will leave his post following the World Cup, but Evra feels that naming the new boss will only distract the team's preparations.
"I can't understand. We always have to get the wrong objective. When we get qualification, people only talked about Thierry Henry's handball," he said.
"Now we are preparing for the World Cup and people talk about naming the next national coach. It is only negative."
