Patrice Evra on Sir Alex Ferguson: ‘If he coached today, he’d probably end up in jail’ | OneFootball

French former international Patrice Evra has suggested that legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would “probably end up in jail” if he was still a coach today. Speaking on the SDS podcast, the 43-year-old left-back, who made over 270 appearances for the Red Devils between 2006 and 2014, didn’t mince his words when reflecting on the intensity Ferguson brought to the dressing room. “If Ferguson was coaching today, he’d probably end up in prison,” Évra joked, before adding: “You don’t know how many players I saw cry because he screamed at them or threw a boot at them… He was mean.”The Marseille-born defender, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League under Ferguson, claimed the manager’s tough love created a winning culture — one that few dared challenge.

Évra then recounted a surreal episode during a friendly match in Saudi Arabia, when Sir Alex exploded at a young Danny Welbeck for missing a penalty. “Rooney gave him the ball but he missed. We lost the game, but it was a friendly, just like a 45-minute match,” said Évra. “When we got back to the dressing room, Ferguson shouted ‘Welbeck!’ Danny and I were in the toilet — he was peeing — but Ferguson was screaming. ‘Who do you think you are?! You’ve barely arrived in the first team and you’re taking penalties?!’”

Évra tried to defuse the situation. “I said, ‘Coach, it was just a friendly,’ and he replied: ‘F*ck the friendly game!’”GFFN | George Boxall