A decade ago, Serie A was regarded as the top European league but times have changed. There has been English representation in the Champions League final for the past four years, with three teams among the four semi-finalists for the last two seasons.
And Evra sees no reason why such dominance should not continue as the holders look to book a quarter-final berth after a goalless first leg at the San Siro a fortnight ago.
“The Premier League is the best football in the world,” said France left-back Evra.
“Every year four English teams compete in the Champions League and every year they always go through to the latter stages.
“English football is very fast, strong and quick.
“A lot of European players are here now, so it is more technical and tactical.
“English football has improved a lot. That is why we are very confident for the game tomorrow.”
Incentive
As a losing finalist with Monaco against FC Porto in 2004, Evra has an added incentive to send former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho packing.
The France defender recognises a goalless draw in Italy hardly represented an accurate reflection of United’s performance, leaving them vulnerable to an early goal at Old Trafford.
However, the memories of a heady night against Barcelona last season when United faced exactly the same scenario and went on to reach a momentous final with Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium, are still fresh enough for Evra to feel it can have an influence.
“The memory of Barcelona is very important,” he said.
“That was a massive game and now we have the experience.
“Every game is different. But we will need the same concentration, the same spirit and the same discipline.”
Not that Evra wants to spend too much time dwelling on what has gone before.
The 27-year-old prefers to look forward. And as he is desperate for United - unbeaten in 20 European games on home soil - to become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, that means victory.
“The past has gone,” he said. “Now we must think about the future, which is tomorrow.
“It is a home game and we need to win.”
Do you think United will be able to dismantle the Inter defence? Have your say. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Very well said, Patrice. I am delighted that our current crop of players are all united in their desire and confidence in becoming the best UNITED squad ever.
All we need now is for every fan of our beloved Club to follow your example and unite, both on and off the field! Let us recreate that wonderful atmosphere of last Season's home leg against Barca!!
Having just watched the scousers completely demolish Real puts Barca's performances this season into perspective. If it were not for Casillas the score line could have been doubled at least.
Real are arguably the second best team in La Liga so what does that say about Barca?
Unless you consider it a freak result it can only lend weight to the argument that assessment of domestic performance is at least somewhat dictated by the strength of the opposition in the league in which you compete.
Of course Barca are still a very good team but are they just as good as people think?
The same argument could be made for Inter in Serie A but we will still need to play with the same comittment and intensity Liverpool showed if we are to progress.
Err. Yes. Barca are a superb team. Dont let last nights performance fool you. Barca are a million miles better than Real. They were all over us last year and this year they are better.
Seeing the scousers last night only makes it even more important that we stay focused and win tonight. Anything else will be a disaster. Unthinkable. Mourinho does make me nervous though. He can always pull something out of the hat...
Mushhhty, I posted before the first legs that Spanish football had not progressed and to take Barca's dominance in Spain with a pinch of salt. I predicted that Barca's tie would be closer than many thought and that the lack of competition in Spain would weaken Barca's position. I stand by that.
Having said that, the Real result isn't a realistic reflection of the meerits of the two sides. Liverpool stank in the first leg and were fortunate to leave Madrid with anything. Then last night a marginal refereeing decision followed by a blatently wrong decision gifted the game to Liverpool early. After that it was a question of how many.
At the moment, English football is a bit ahead of Spanish and Italian football but these are cup ties and the form book can easily be upset by a deflection or poor refereeing.
On last nights showing R. Madrid would strugle to make the top half of the
prem.However dont write Barca off,they are still a fine outfit.They are the only team that could win the CL outside england.The rest are pretty
ordinary.Well done pool last night,but they wont have it so easy at the weekend.Meanwhile I think we have enough to see off Inter tonight,although,it could well be tight.Come on you reds!!...
If we get past Inter Barca would be technically the biggest threat. However, they are wobbling seriously and I wonder if Guardiola's inexperience is coming back to bite him. They destroyed all before them and maybe have paced themselves incorrectly that they are too tired to maintain that level in the run in. This is perhaps the most impressive thing about Man U this season and last. we seem to time things just about right and be prepared in the right way for whatever game we face. The one thing you cannot control is luck.
As for Barca running over us last year I think is being melodramatic. Apart from a couple of dangerous moments they really did not hurt us. We will have learned from L'pool and Chelsea who have shown how to beat them. They are a bit like Arsenal in that they are awesome when it goes in their favour but have a questionable back bone for a fight. They don't like it. When we play at our best there is not much between our attacking play but if we have something over them it is in defence and that their goalkeeper is clearly a weak link. If we draw them again this year we will play the same way.
More worrying potentially is the Germans are looking the dark horse and L'pool and Chelsea are close to knowing the CH L is their best chance of winning something so might focus all efforts on that.