Patrice Evra WILL TAKE UP yoga to last just like Ryan Giggs

Posted Thursday, April 28, 2011 by Express.co.uk

Patrice Evra WILL TAKE UP yoga to last just like Ryan Giggs
Schalke star Raul keeps a close watch on Manchester United player Patrice Evra

PATRICE EVRA last night vowed to sign up for yoga classes after watching Ryan Giggs inspire Manchester United to the brink of the Champions League final.

Giggs, 37, has thanked yoga for prolonging his career over two decades and nearly 900 games.

And after watching Giggs notch up another career milestone in the 2-0 win over Schalke by becoming the oldest player to score in the competition, Evra wants to copy his example.

France defender Evra, 30, said: “Ryan has been talking to us about his yoga. He says that is what makes him run fast, and I’m going to sign up for it right away.

“He is 37, he still runs more than almost anyone else on the pitch, and he makes a difference. It is really impressive and he is a legend and an example to follow.”

Evra reckons the pressure got to Schalke on Tuesday when United dominated the game and would have won by a bigger margin if not for the heroics of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

“Schalke remind me of the Monaco team I played in when we lost to Porto in the 2004 final,” said Evra. “It was a great journey for us, but at that point the pressure got to us.

“The Champions League is magical but, at a certain point, it becomes serious. Maybe Schalke could not cope with the pressure surrounding this game, but we could.”

Despite being overwhelming favourites to finish the job at Old Trafford next Wednesday and reach the final at Wembley, Evra has warned United against complacency.

“We know Schalke scored five times against Inter Milan at the San Siro, so we won’t underestimate them.

“And in Monaco’s run to the 2004 final I remember us losing 4-2 to Real Madrid in a quarter-final, first leg at the Bernabeu. Madrid thought they were going through, but we beat them 3-1 to reach the semi-finals.

“In football, you never know, so we have to be as professional in the second leg as we were in Germany.
We have to win at Old Trafford.

“If we don’t get to the final now, it would be the biggest disaster of all our careers because now we are so near.”