Gary Neville says he had concerns when Jonny Evans started for Manchester United against Burnley, thinking the game could have “finished” him.
The club gave the 35-year-old center back a one-year contract this summer after he returned for a trial.
Evans started for Erik ten Hag on Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Burnley; he had a goal disallowed and then assisted on Bruno Fernandes’ game-winning goal.
I’m going to talk about it honestly, Neville declared on his program. Man City wаnted Jonny Evans three or four years ago, and Pep Guardiola doesn’t choose mugs, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him in the starting lineup.Still, there were a few games near the conclusion of my time with Manchester United in which nobody ran with me and I found myself on the sidelines. “Oh, Jonny,” I thought.
If those Burnley strikers had gotten to Jonny, the game might as well have been over for him.
But I couldn’t be happier with how the game turned out for him. He arranged for Bruno Fernandes to receive the cute little pass.”I was relieved for him because I was worried about how it would turn out.”
Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League led to the dismissal of Evans at the end of the previous season.
From 2006 until 2015, he played in 198 games for United before leaving for West Brom and then Leicester, where he spent the last five years before returning to United.
Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans thinks Manchester United, despite their difficult start to the season, have a “good thing going” under Erik ten Hag.After a promising debut season under the Dutchman, things have gone astray, and the Red Devils have lost four of their first six matches across all competitions for the first time since 1986.
Despite some mitigating factors in that terrible run, pressure is rising on the Old Trafford giants as they go to Burnley on Saturday night in the Premier League.
Although Ten Hag’s squad wasn’t playing very well, they were able to eke out a 1-0 victory thanks to a spectacular strike from Bruno Fernandes. On Tuesday, they’ll start defending their Carabao Cup title at home against Crystal Palace.
After sitting on the sidelines during United’s Wembley victory in February, veteran defender Evans has returned to the club where he came up through the ranks.
“I’ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,” admitted the defender, who previously played for the club and won three Premier League titles and a Champions League.
If you want to get to the top, I think you realize that. It’s going to be a roller coaster, I can tell you that much.
It’s all a part of the process, and you have to be ready to handle disappointments if you want to succeed at this club.
What the management is doing is working out well.As a dedicated fan, I spent most of last season watching my favorite team in action and even attended both championship games. I agree with what you said about the manager having a winning formula.
On Saturday night, Evans made his second appearance of the season and his first start for United in eight and a half years.
The 35-year-old played brilliantly against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, scoring a goal that was disallowed and then setting up the game-winning strike by Fernandes.
The happy Northern Irishman was celebrating his 200th appearance for United. “That was great,” he remarked. All day long, I kept thinking about how much fun that would be.
I couldn’t wait for the game after finding out yesterday in training that I was going to be starting.
“To be perfectly honest, I was more anxiоus about my first preseason game in Edinburgh.”Tonight, I lacked the usual nervousness. Going into the game, I was genuinely rather pumped up. I was excited for it and I knew I was prepared.
At Turf Moor, Evans put up a magnificent performance from all angles, prompting captain Fernandes to give Evans the man of the match award.
After leaving Leicester following relegation and an ιnjury-plagued season, the central defender quipped that it was just the third of his career that he never anticipated to return to such heights.
When asked if he ever expected to return to this level, Evans replied emphatically, “No, definitely not.”
“This is not a time to ease up. I think people’s careers naturally progress in that direction, and it’s tough to find a team willing to take a rιsk on you at age 35.
I’m extremely appreciative that the team is giving me this chance after all the injuries I had last season.It’s quite bizarre in some ways, yet in others it feels perfectly natural.
It’s a little head-scratching at times, but I’m really enjoying it.
Not many people get the chance to come back into the military at the age of 35 (I was asked to do so in order to give cover).
It’s going to be a difficult task, but I’m confident I’m up to it.
“It’s one that I think is ideal for me at this point in my career.”