Patrice Evra is sticking by Cristiano Ronaldo even as the superstar's supporters continue to abandon him following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
Ronaldo rounded on Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville in the interview. That has led to widespread condemnation from many pundits, including Rio Ferdinand, who has been one of Ronaldo's biggest backers since he returned to Old Trafford.
The interview appears to have damaged his relationship with United beyond repair, with many of his team-mates wanting him to be moved on. But Evra has conceded that he sympathises with Ronaldo, as he backed him to star at the World Cup.
"It’s a really low moment for Cristiano right now and there are a lot of people criticising him about his attitude, but at the end of the day we are all human. I’m not trying to defend anybody but sometimes when you are hurt you can make mistakes," Evra told Betfair.
"I think Cristiano Ronaldo will take his chance to show he’s the best player in the world [in Qatar]. In the last game, he was being booed by his own fans so he will be really hurt. He’s already won something with his country, but I am sure this tournament will be personal for him.
"He needs to think about the team, and they have a strong squad and I think Portugal can surprise some people. They’ve got an angry Cristiano Ronaldo right now. Angry for winning, angry for goals and angry for showing people that he’s the best player in the world.
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"I hope that doesn’t impact the squad. This could be his last World Cup, and with everything that is going on with Manchester United, I’m sure he can’t wait to start. In his head, he’ll already be training and getting ready."
Ronaldo's interview was extraordinary, with the Portugal captain accusing United of having not progressed since he departed in 2009. The 37-year-old was scathing in his criticism as he took aim at the "instability" that had taken hold at Old Trafford.
"To be honest, when I signed for Manchester United, I thought everything was changed because it's 13 years... I was in Real Madrid nine years and three in Juventus," Ronaldo said.
"And when I arrived, I thought everything will be different, you know, the technology, the infrastructures and everything. But I was surprised, in a bad way, let's say in that way because I saw everything was the same.
"In that moment that as you mentioned that Ole was sacked, Michael Carrick he assumed the job for two games. Villareal, and Chelsea away. And everything was so fast, but surprised me a lot, [the] instability in the club.
“They stopped on a clock, in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion. Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it's behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me.
"A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level."
Portugal fans will be hoping Ronaldo is not distracted by the furore around him as he leads them in group-stage clashes against Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea at the World Cup.
