PATRICE EVRA has admitted he finds it difficult to cover Manchester United games as a pundit.
Evra, 43, starred for the Red Devils between 2006 and 2014, making 379 appearances for the club and winning numerous titles including five Premier Leagues, the Champions League and three League Cups.
However, United have been on a continuously downward spiral since the Frenchman’s departure.
Since calling time on his playing career in 2018, Evra has moved into punditry and has been a frequent sight on Sky Sports.
Many of his appearances on the broadcaster come when United are in action.
But Evra has now revealed he finds it difficult to remain calm after admitting his former club’s demise “hurts” him, and even begged not to work on United games with them.
Appearing on Sky following the Red Devils’ 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, he said: “Of course, it’s hard, it hurts, that’s why you see some commentators are really harsh because people are frustrated.
“You love your club so much and you get disappointed by some performances. Of course.
“That’s why, when I was working for Sky, I was begging not to commentate on any Manchester United games.
“When he had that 6-1 loss against Tottenham and you can see my face on TV, I couldn’t hide my feelings.
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“It doesn’t matter if you work for Sky and you have to be neutral – when your club is not performing well.”
Evra previously had an emotive reaction when United were beaten 6-1 by Spurs back in 2020.
Asked by presenter Dave Jones whether he wanted to be elsewhere at the time, he said: “You know, Alexis Sanchez, when he signed for United, at his first training session, he asked his agent to rip up his contract.
“That’s what I’m going to ask to Sky – I really would like to end my contract with Sky, because it’s my second game, I’m a positive person and I never want to talk about United because when you tell the truth it can hurt.
“I’m passionate and I love my club… I know you have to have some filter when you talk on TV, but it’s a shambles.
“I feel what all the United fans feel. That’s why I would prefer to commentate on different games other than United if I (am to) continue working for Sky.”
That famous rant even ended up in Evra suggesting players should get a “slap” following display.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag reportedly has just two games to save his job, with matches against Porto and Aston Villa potentially pivotal to the Dutchman’s future after a poor start to the season.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE returns for another thrilling night of action after Tuesday’s goal-fest.
Aston Villa face a mammoth encounter against German giants Bayern Munich while Liverpool host Italian outfit Bologna.
And both English sides will be determined to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal who cruised to a 2-0 win against French champions PSG or Manchester City who thrashed Slovakian kings Slovan Bratislava 4-0.
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NIGEL Farage clashed with an exasperated Susanna Reid in a fiery debate on Good Morning Britain today.
The Reform UK leader immediately locked horns on the ITV breakfast show on a number of topics, including Brexit, immigration and the law – before being told “you’re trying to inflame people”.
It was his remarks about the mass murder of children in Southport and resultant mass riots in July, as well as the subsequent discussions on Contempt of Court which irked Reid the most.
She said he had been accused by Tory party leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat of “amplifying false information” in relation to a video he posted claiming police had “withheld the truth” about the alleged perpetrator.
The presenter couched the discussion by emphasising there is an ongoing legal process, which they must be careful not to jeopardise.
Farage cut in: “We always hide behind that, don’t we?”
Reid hit back: “That’s the rule of law in this country, that we don’t compromise someone’s fair trial and allow the families of those who’ve suffered to hear the truth.”
Farage said: “We hide behind this again and again…”
To which Reid cut in: “Why do you say ‘hide behind’? You are fully in support of the rule of law, you know what Contempt of Court is.”
As Farage began to retort, she told him: “Please don’t veer into Contempt of Court.”
The former UKIP leader referred to Lib Dem peer Lord Carlisle and Westminster “legal tsar” Jonathan Hall KC both saying governments in general hide behind the idea of a legal process.
Farage said: “Susanna, you can shake your head…”
She answered: “I am absolutely shaking my head… you asked if the truth is being withheld from us…”
He cut in: “Of course it’s being withheld.”
Farage brought up the 2023 Nottingham mass killings carried out by Valdo Calocane – pointing to the fact that it took his trial to reveal that doctors had previously advised he was a danger.
Reid said: “Those are two completely different cases. That’s not how the rule of law works.”
Farage said: “The public deserve to know the truth.”
He went on to say: “Why do you think the riots happened in the way they did? Because there was a vacuum, people were not being told the truth.”
Reid’s co-presenter Ed Balls accused Farage of trying to help “inflame” people into rioting amid incorrect claims the suspect was an immigrant.
“You’re a Member of Parliament, you’ve got responsibility now, you can’t just behave like some pundit on some TV show.”
Earlier in his appearance, Farage had told the show the Conservative brand is “completely damaged” and he has no intention of doing a deal with the next Tory leader.
Farage said of the four Conservative Party leadership candidates: “They all think with a new leader ‘it’ll all be fine, all the voters will come back to us’, and what they don’t understand is the Conservative brand is completely damaged, they have no chance of winning the next election.”
He added: “There would be no deal with them, I wouldn’t trust them anyway, they have a pattern of behaviour pretending to be one thing and then when they’re in government being quite the opposite.
“And, frankly, what I’m trying to do with Reform is replace them.”
Pressed on the Tory record on Brexit and asked if he was proud of the UK’s exit from the EU, Mr Farage said: “Do I think getting back our independence was the right thing to do? You bet your life.
“Do I think we’ve handled it well? Good Lord, no.”
BETHAN Kershaw has been praised for showing off her real body after stripping down to her underwear.
The former Geordie Shore star, 29, looked incredible as she filmed a body positivity post on Instagram.
Bethan rocked a grey Victoria’s Secret bra and matching thong set for the video.
In the clip she highlighted that having prominent veins, textured armpits, stomach rolls, back rolls, cellulite, hip dips, a lower stomach pouch, stretch marks, wrinkles, pores, scars and loose skin is still beautiful, despite what society makes us think.
Bethan told her followers they: “All have absolutely nothing to do with your worth.”
She wrote in the caption: “Learning to love every inch of myself, because my body is not a trend — it’s my home.
“Embracing the curves, the scars, and everything in between.
“Self love isn’t about perfection, it’s about acceptance and celebrating the beauty that is uniquely YOU.
“EveryBODY tells a story and mine is one of strength, resilience and growth.
“Let’s stop comparing and start appreciating the skin we’re in because at the end of the day, you are so much more than just your body.”
Her fans loved the message behind her post and flocked to share the love.
One said: “Real women
.”
“I totally love this!! 
Thank u for sharing and being a true role model
,” another chimed in.
A third added: “100%!!! Adore you .”
A fourth wrote: “YESSS !!! the most gorgeous girlie
love the realness.”
A fifth commented: “Babe you’re perfect, some people might see all those things you listed as imperfections but they’re beautiful, loving the confidence beaut.”
Last month Bethan was praised as she showed off her curves in sexy sheer lingerie.
She posed for some snaps in a sheer babydoll dress on Instagram.
Sharing a photo of herself with a black bra and underwear underneath, she then teamed it with a body positivity quote which read: “I need to love myself”.
Earlier this year Bethan hit back at cruel bodyshaming trolls as she showed off her real body on the beach.
The star stripped to a nude-coloured crochet bikini and matching skirt while on her travels.
In her caption, she told fans: “What it feels and sounds like when you stop internalizing other peoples projections and just exist in peace.”
Fans were quick to react, with one writing: “I think you look incredible and are an inspiration to young females!”
A second put: “You looks amazing,” as a third wrote: “You look happy & healthy and that’s all that matters.”
