Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has claimed that no member of the Manchester City squad 'love' Pep Guardiola as the pair continue to exchange words.
The Frenchman was back in a United shirt on Saturday as the Red Devils hosted Liverpool in a legends charity match, and just like the current squad, they lost to the Reds at Old Trafford. Despite it being a light-hearted occasion, Evra still used the opportunity to escalate his row with Guardiola in an interview.
The two have been firing shots at one another ever since Evra slammed City for not having any 'personality' after they lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League. And now the Frenchman has claimed that none of Guardiola's squad 'love him'.
It's true that City lacked character in the final stages of their brutal Champions League defeat to Madrid, but Guardiola wasn't impressed with Evra's comments and bit back. The City boss claimed that Evra himself lacked those qualities, as he was part of a United side that were 'destroyed' by Barcelona in 2011.
But Evra has stirred the pot once again by claiming that no one at City loves Guardiola, and even suggested that he has Lionel Messi to thank for ever winning the competition. "I didn’t understand to be honest," Evra told the Manchester Evening News following United legend's loss to Liverpool.
"I am not watching that much in the media, and then a friend sends me Guardiola talking about ‘maybe Patrice Evra wants a job’ and then after ‘we destroyed them with Barcelona’. I was working for Amazon Prime and I just said playing under Guardiola, when you have personality, it must be difficult, when you have ego.
"I am talking about players when they played with him and they always say he has been a problem. What I said was nice, but now if you want to go talk, I will talk. I don’t see any City player who loves him.
"He is a genius, but as a person, I don’t know him personally. I was surprised he even had time to answer to Patrice Evra, I am a retired player, I am doing my job.
"I was a little surprised. But me, I am always happy, I don’t have any hate in my heart. But when people want to do some banter, I am ready for that.
"By the way, he wins because he had Xavi, Iniesta and [Lionel] Messi. Of course you’re going to win the Champions League. But since he don’t have them, it is a long time ago he won the Champions League."
City continue to struggle in the Champions League, and although they've reached the latter stages in recent years, they can't seem to quite get over the line. And Guardiola hasn't won the Champions League since leaving Barcelona, and it's the only blemish on his City record.
Guardiola will have to wait another year to try and set the record straight, and there is no doubt that City will be back. But Evra will be hoping that they continue to fall, as his war of words with Guardiola continues.
