Evra: Something Always Happens With Chelsea

Patrice Evra seems to get himself in trouble when we play Chelsea. The season before last he was involved in a fight with a member of Chelsea’s groundstaff after our defeat.

There was CCTV footage of the incident and the FA conceded that this did not show Evra hitting the groundsman. The FA noted that the groundsman claimed he was hit on his right ear and that Evra is right-handed, making it impossible for him to have struck him, given they were stood squared up to each other. Still, the corrupt institution that runs football in this country decided that a four match ban on the say so of the groundstaff’s evidence was the right decision.

When United went on to thrash Chelsea at Old Trafford last season, Evra mockingly dedicated the result to the FA.

Then there was Michael Ballack’s behaviour in this summer’s Community Shield, which saw the German shoulder barge Evra off the ball. United should have been awarded a freekick and Ballack should have gone in the book, but instead Chelsea went on to score with United a defender down. The match went on to finish 2-2.

“It is unfortunate that when I play against Chelsea, something always seems to happen,” said Evra. “First it was the ground-staff, then last year I had a bit of an argument with Michael Ballack. This year I have to make sure nothing happens because we need to get a result. Apart from the Community Shield, I have never lost against them and I aim to make sure that run continues. If there is one game I want to win this season, it is the one at Stamford Bridge. I didn’t know it has been so long since our last victory there. It is the right time to end that run.”