‘At Arsenal, I was training and kids with convertibles were going to Harrods’: Patrice Evra reveals how Robin van Persie found a HUGE difference between life under Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United
- Robin van Persie left Arsenal to join their title rivals Man United in 2012
- Van Persie was shocked by the difference in work ethic between the two teams
- Evra claimed Van Persie felt United were ‘so professional’ compared to Arsenal
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Patrice Evra has revealed Robin van Persie was shocked by the difference in work ethic between Manchester United and Arsenal when he joined the Red Devils in 2012.
The Dutch striker made the controversial move to leave Arsenal after going seven years without winning a trophy, and opted to join their title rivals at Old Trafford.
At the time, Arsenal were trying to keep pace with both Manchester clubs, but Evra has claimed Van Persie noticed one major issue holding the Gunners back straight away.
Speaking about Van Persie’s first impressions of United, Evra told the Vibe with Five YouTube channel: ‘Robin, he’d say: “Patrice, I’ve never seen people so professional. Training the way you’re training in the training session”.
‘He’d say he’d finish the training session, everyone is in the gym. Before training in the gym, after training in the gym.
Patrice Evra has revealed Robin van Persie was critical of Arsenal’s work ethic when he joined Man United
Evra has explained how Sir Alex Ferguson treated Van Persie differently in order to keep him fit
Van Persie repaid Ferguson’s faith by playing a decisive role in United’s title win in 2012-13
‘That’s why he was like “when I was playing at Arsenal, I was still on the pitch and I’d see kids with convertible cars already going to Harrods or whatever.”‘
Van Persie made a huge impact in his maiden season at United, scoring 26 league goals to take the Golden Boot as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won the title by 11 points.
Arsenal could only finish fourth, 16 points adrift of the champions.
Evra agrees with Van Persie that United’s players all trained exceptionally hard under Ferguson, but has explained how the Scot would go easy on Van Persie as he knew how decisive he would be on matchdays.
‘I don’t know if you remember, the way Ferguson managed Van Persie,’ Evra said, addressing former team-mate Rio Ferdinand.
‘He knows we are animals, if someone doesn’t train we are going to say he doesn’t deserve to play.
But with Van Persie he said “guys, this guy he won’t (be) training every day. Sometimes he’s going to be on the side training with his own physio. But I have to manage his injury. But this guy is going to win the league for us.”‘
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