Gelsinkirschen: Patrice Evra has hit back at Manchester United’s critics for writing off the double chasers as mediocre.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team moved a step closer to next month's Champions League final with a 2-0 first-leg semi-final win against Schalke - and would have a far greater advantage to take back to Old Trafford were it not for a string of miraculous saves by Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Evra believes United's performance was the perfect response to those who have been underwhelmed by their displays this season.
Speaking after the win, the Frenchman said: "I remember before the home game against Bursaspor [last October], which we won 1-0, people were saying it was the end of the empire, the end of Manchester United, the worst team ever. I said, 'Sometimes you have to pay the musician at the end of the show, not before'.
"Tonight there was only one side on the pitch but the players, everyone, was a little bit frustrated because we were thinking, ‘How can we go into half-time without scoring a goal’ when you create a lot of chances like we did in the first half. But, in the end, 2-0 away in a semi-final, not bad."
Evra believes that the only thing that can prevent United marching to Wembley for their third Champions League final in four years is complacency.
He also provided an insight into the team’s motivation before the game by revealing that they had agreed to focus on May 28 rather than their mid-table Bundesliga opposition.
Evra believes United are coming good at the business end of the season
"The only thing that can stop us is if we don’t respect that team again," said Evra. "Man United played well because we respected that team. Before the game we got everyone together and said, 'We are not playing against Schalke, we are playing to reach the final'. That’s why we played with that spirit, that mentality, and we win that game.
"But you never know. They didn’t play well tonight but at Old Trafford they might play really well. You have to remember they won 5-2 at the San Siro. You can’t think already that we are in the final. In football many strange things happen.
"Schalke reminded me a little bit of when I was at Monaco and I reached the final. We played a semi-final against Chelsea, a quarter-final against Real Madrid but when we arrived in the final the experience [of Porto] was one of the keys of the game."
United are also six points clear in the Premier League and travel to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday looking to move another step closer to wrapping up the title.
"For us it is a very important game," said Evra. "If we lost there and Chelsea win, they are within three points. That is why we have to end the title race at Arsenal and win.
"They will play with the pride because they play in front of their own fans and want to win. But, for sure, we have a good record at Emirates now. It is a dangerous game. Arsenal want to show they still have a chance to win the title."
The marquee matches are coming thick and fast for United but Evra says it is all part and parcel of being at an elite club.
"When you sign for a big club like Man United, you enjoy the top games," he said. "Every game we play now is a big final. What more can you ask for? It’s a good life."
One player who has been ignored recently by Sir Alex Ferguson is Dimitar Berbatov, injured for the last two games but who has been relegated to the bench for much of the last two months as Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have forged an outstanding partnership.
"Wazza is very dangerous when he plays behind the striker because he
has more touches of
the ball"
"You don’t have to forget about Berba," said Evra. "He has scored 21 [league] goals. He is a good goalscorer. If it’s 'Chicha' (Hernandez) or Wayne or Berba, they always score.
"Wayne plays well with Chicha but Berba as well is a good sidekick. You can’t forget that. Maybe, you never know, he will play the second leg."
Evra also paid tribute to Rooney’s outstanding recent form as a deep-lying striker in the No.10 role.
"Wazza, when he plays behind the striker he is very dangerous because he has more touches of the ball and Wazza can create the goal as well and can score," he said. "He enjoys playing that position and it is a good benefit for the team.
"I’m very happy for him because he is working very hard and that is good for Man United. The most important thing is that he plays well. I don’t know if he is best No.9 or No.10 but it is true that this year he chose to play No.10. Maybe next year he will play again No.9."
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