GIVE THE NATION A WITH SOME GREAT
PATRICE EVRA has revealed how he was forced to beg for money during a childhood spent on the tough streets of Paris.
But the former Manchester United full-back (right), now 39, insists coming from such a poor family background helped make him the man he became – a French international capped 81 times and a Champions League winner.
He said: “It was a tough childhood. I’ve got many brothers and sisters – so it wasn’t easy living in the streets. Sometimes I wasn’t even able to have some food.
“I’m not scared to say that I’ve begged for money. But I learned so much and it helped me to be strong.
“I’m not a victim. I’m just telling my true story. I just want to motivate more kids to never give up.”
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are facing a player revolt over the plan to restart the season.
It is understood that a number of foreign stars have approached their individual governments for advice on whether it will be safe for them to return to action on June 12.
Others have made it clear to agents that they feel they are being put under intolerable pressure to save the game from financial meltdown by
PEP GUARDIOLA has given his backing to the bid to bring back the Premier League. The Manchester City boss is still mourning the tragic loss of his mother to the coronavirus almost a month ago.
But he is committed to his club’s stance that an attempt should be made to resume the season on June 12 – if the
Government gives its approval.
Guardiola understands better than anyone that
Premier League chiefs must tread carefully in their efforts to find a way to finish the campaign while the Covid-19 pandemic continues to kill.
A City source confirmed: “Pep will be in charge of the team when the season restarts.
“This is obviously still a traumatic time for him and his family – but he took a lot of comfort from the messages of support he received after his mother passed away.
“The hope at the club is that football can play a role in helping running the risk of becoming infected by the coronavirus themselves.
Premier League clubs face losing an estimated £1.3billion in TV revenues, sponsorship cash and gate receipts if the season is cancelled.
But many players believe they are being asked to gamble with their own health – and the wellbeing of their the country to return to some kind of normality.”
Guardiola was devastated when his 82-year-old mum, Dolors Sala Carrio, passed away in Barcelona on April 6.
Spain has been one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic and only Madrid has suffered more fatalities than Catalonia.
Guardiola, 49, has donated £920,000 to the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation to help with the purchase of medical equipment. City are one of the clubs behind the mission of both the Premier League and UEFA to complete the season.
Even with the backing of owner Sheikh Mansour, the Blues face losing more than £100million if Operation Restart fails – and that would threaten the jobs of non-playing staff.
City were the first club to announce that they would not put workers on furlough. But the social and economic consequences of voiding the season would be harsh. families.
The news that three people at Bundesliga club Cologne have tested positive for the virus after the first-team squad and backroom staff returned to training has cranked up the fear factor.
Clubs will be faced with the task of persuading their stars to finish the season over the course of the coming month.
Holland and France have both opted to void their campaigns in a bid to avoid further spikes in infection rates.
And that has prompted a number of players to ask for guidance from their own governments rather than rely on the information being relayed to them by the Premier League, their individual clubs and Westminster.
One source close to a foreign player said: “There is so much contradictory