Evra bemused by United odds

Patrice Evra cannot believe how Manchester United have been written off in this season’s Premier League title race.

Despite wrapping up their 20th championship with four games to spare last season and eventually finishing 11 points ahead of their nearest challengers, Manchester City, United were only third favourites in most bookmakers lists.

“It is not just this season,” he said. “It is every year.

“I have been here eight years now and every year people say we are going to finish fourth or fifth in the league. It is unbelievable.”

Although there was an element of rustiness about United’s play, especially early on, the eventual outcome at the Liberty Stadium was not the performance of a club whose standards have dramatically slipped.

“The way we are working we feel good,” he said.

“But the result is not a message for our opponents. It is a message to trust what are doing with this new manager, trust the way we want to play and the way he wants to win. That is it.

“The message is for us, for ourselves and the Manchester United fans.

“I always say the biggest opponent for Manchester United is Manchester United. Every year I play for this club I will say the same.”