Source: Team_Talk
Positive approach for Evans
Jonny Evans believes Manchester United should not dwell on that shattering Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in May.[LNB] As Barca are the opponents for the final match of United's five-match US Tour, which opens in Boston on Wednesday evening, memories of that miserable Wembley night will not be far away for the next three weeks.[LNB]Evans freely accepts Pep Guardiola's men have set a standard that will be difficult to match.[LNB]However, rather than allow themselves to develop an inferiority complex, the Northern Ireland star believes his team-mates only need to look at their domestic record to feel better about themselves.[LNB]Over the last five seasons, United have secured four Premier League titles and missed out on the other by a single point.[LNB]In addition, they have appeared in three Champions League finals, won the Club World Cup and two Carling Cups.[LNB]"It has been a successful era," he said.[LNB]"The defeat to Barcelona hurts and probably will do for a while yet.[LNB]"But you can't deny the fact we have been very dominant in the domestic game.[LNB]"That is a must for us every year. We must win the league and get close in the other trophies."[LNB]Yet, as Evans concedes, Barcelona overcame United's threat with a brand of football Sir Alex Ferguson had not encountered before and which many pundits argue is the best the game has ever seen.[LNB]"Barcelona have set the standard," said Evans.[LNB]"They have gone to another level. That is where we have to get to.[LNB]"Maybe 10 years ago, when Manchester United went into Europe, there was a gap to bridge and we managed to do it.[LNB]"The challenge is there for us again."[LNB]Evans was speaking at a joint charity event organised by the Manchester United Foundation and the Special Olympics, preferred charitable partner of the Red Devils' sponsors Aon.[LNB]At each of their tour venues - Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New Jersey and Washington - United will invite a number of Special Olympians, young people who have learning disabilities, to work with their coaches and meet a selection of first-team players.[LNB]Thirty one got the opportunity to work out at the world famous Harvard University and clearly the enjoyment they derived lifted the focus from what promises to be a physically demanding tour.[LNB]"We have been doing a lot of work with the Foundation over the last couple of years," said Evans. "It is something the manager has insisted on.[LNB]"The kids get great pleasure out of us coming down and it is nice for us to have the chance to give something back ourselves."
