Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra believes Chelsea can outperform expectations this season, saying the arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson could give Xabi Alonso the experience and dressing-room authority needed to challenge more established sides.
Evra said he immediately messaged Welbeck after the striker’s move to Chelsea, replying: “Damn it!” He explained that his reaction came from affection for his former Manchester United team-mate, but also from knowing how effective Welbeck can be against his old club.
“I love Welbeck very much; he’s like a brother to me,” Evra said.
He also defended Chelsea’s decision to sign Henderson, arguing that experienced players are often undervalued when clubs focus heavily on recruiting younger talent.
“People often overlook this, always thinking that bringing in young players is enough to win trophies,” Evra said. “No, I think this was a wise decision.”
Evra believes Alonso, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten league title, is deliberately building a squad that can manage the pressures inside the dressing room. He said Henderson’s influence was clear during his time with Liverpool and England, despite some surprise when the midfielder was selected for the World Cup.
“Liverpool lost Mane and many other players, but look at the situation now after they lost Henderson,” Evra added.
He said players such as Henderson and Welbeck may not attract the same attention as the biggest stars, but can prove decisive in difficult matches. Welbeck’s record against Manchester United was another reason for Evra’s concern, with the forward having scored regularly against them during his time at Brighton and Arsenal.
Evra stressed that such players do not necessarily need to start every match. Their value, he said, can be seen in the final stages of games, when their experience and composure become particularly important.
“They have to come on when there are 20 minutes left,” he said. “You need that kind of experience, and you need such players for crucial games because they know how to handle pressure.”
Joao Pedro and the Ballon d’Or race
Evra also said Chelsea forward Joao Pedro would be especially motivated after missing out on Brazil’s World Cup squad. He questioned why the player had not been selected, while acknowledging that Carlo Ancelotti’s decisions had to be respected.
Evra expects Joao Pedro to use the disappointment as motivation to prove the decision was wrong and improve his chances of returning to the Brazil team.
The former France international said he had “a lot of confidence in Chelsea”, pointing to Alonso’s unbeaten title-winning campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, the team’s defensive structure and its match-winning players, including Palmer.
He cautioned that his prediction was only a personal opinion, but said Chelsea could catch a number of teams off guard.
Evra was less willing to compare Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, saying both built legendary careers over 15 years through sustained excellence, goals and regular proof that they belonged among the world’s best.
However, he described Yamal as the best young player he had seen at that age. He said the Barcelona winger could become a serious Ballon d’Or contender if he began the season strongly, particularly because he had already won the World Cup.
Evra argued that Kylian Mbappe should be the leading candidate on individual performance. Mbappe was La Liga’s top scorer last season, as well as the leading scorer in the Champions League and the World Cup.
He added that the outcome could depend on expectations around Mbappe’s team success. While supporters expect him to win La Liga and the Champions League, Evra noted that Messi had previously won the Ballon d’Or despite Barcelona failing to win major trophies, largely because his goal contributions exceeded 100.
Ronaldo’s longevity and FIFA criticism
Evra said Ronaldo’s professionalism was the main reason he had remained at the top for so long. He recalled that Ronaldo would arrive at training at 08:00 despite a 10:00 start, using the extra time to work on every detail.
“I’ve never had a more professional teammate than Ronaldo,” Evra said, describing the Portugal captain’s approach as a special “sickness” or “addiction” to work and self-improvement.
He would not be surprised if Ronaldo continued playing for another one or two years. Evra also defended him after a difficult World Cup, saying Ronaldo’s team-mates should have supported him in the same way Argentina supported Messi.
Asked about FIFA, Evra said corruption was the first thing that came to mind. He described Gianni Infantino as a good and upright person but suggested that people in senior positions can face pressure from those above them.
Evra referred to Donald Trump’s influence during the World Cup and the “crazy Balogun red card incident”, saying leaders can sometimes be instructed what to do and risk losing their jobs if they refuse. He questioned whether Infantino still had time to make positive changes after first making and then withdrawing a statement.
If given responsibility for tackling corruption, Evra said he would choose Eric Cantona. He described Cantona as someone who loved football and could not be corrupted, while also mentioning Arsene Wenger as another possible candidate.
Evra accepted that choosing Cantona would be controversial, but said the former Manchester United forward represented the image of French footballers and helped explain the club’s long-standing fondness for signing players from France.
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