Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 9y

Juventus defender Patrice Evra: French lack winning mentality

Patrice Evra challenged Ligue 1 clubs to adopt more of a winning mentality after he helped Juventus end his country's Champions League challenge by knocking out Monaco.

The Frenchman, 33, returned to the club where he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2002 to play a key role for Juve at the Stade Louis II, where a goalless draw was enough to take them through to the semifinals following their 1-0 first-leg win.

Monaco's attempt to upset the Serie A champions-elect, just as they had done Arsenal in the previous round, will have earned them plaudits.

Evra, however, claimed that, after also seeing Paris Saint-Germain succumb to Barcelona this week, French football needed to harden up to rival Europe's biggest sides.

"I'm not a wise man, and Paris came up against a very good side and Monaco against an experienced team in Juve, but I think in France we like being the country that finishes second," he said. "They're going to have to make a step up, that is to say adopt a different attitude.

"You have to respect your opponent, but on the pitch, you have to add a touch of inspiration and be aware of your strengths. I think French teams sometimes doubt. They play some good games but, in the end, they don't go through."

Though they often had the upper hand, Monaco failed to seriously test Gianluigi Buffon in the visitors' goal, meaning Arturo Vidal's first-leg penalty enabled Massimiliano Allegri's men to progress to the last four for the first time since 2002-03.

"We weren't pretty to watch, whether that be the first leg or the second but, in the end, there is that ruthless streak," Evra said. "I also spoke to the Monaco players. They said they had half-chances but never got the impression they could score. So, we did what was needed à l'italienne, you might say.

"There is a lot of experience in this Juve team, a lot of players who have already won this competition, so I think that's why Monaco should not be disappointed. I think their future looks good."

^ Back to Top ^