Evans: Only Ronaldo and RvP Had Guaranteed Place

Jonny Evans has claimed that during the past few years under Sir Alex Ferguson, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie have been guaranteed a place in the starting XI. Whilst this almost certainly wasn’t intended as a dig at his pal Wayne Rooney, it suggests that the players have little sympathy for Rooney’s tantrum about having to earn his place in the team like everyone else.

“Unless it was Robin van Persie or Cristiano Ronaldo when he was here, there was never a first choice in any position,” said Evans. “If you didn’t perform he would have you out of the team, but then if one of the other players had a game or two when they weren’t at their best the manager would have no problem putting you back in. The key thing was whenever he picked a team you always thought he was doing it for a reason, not because of any personal vendetta or that he didn’t rate you. Now we don’t know how the new manager will work. That is why everyone is so desperate to impress.”