JUVENTUS DEFENDER PATRICE Evra will shake Luis Suarez’s hand before the UEFA Champions League final, but said he would make sure the Uruguayan felt his presence.
Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Evra during a Premier League game in 2011 when the pair were at Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, leading to a fine and eight-game ban.
The two will meet again in the Champions League final on 6 June, when Evra’s Juve face Suarez’s Barcelona in Berlin.
Evra, who played 90 minutes in Juve’s 1-1 second-leg semi-final draw at Real Madrid on Wednesday, said he was unfazed by facing Suarez.
“It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that I play in the final,” Evra said.
“I am proud to be what I am, I am proud about my colour, and I will shake his hand, it is no problem, but I will make sure he will feel me on the pitch.”
Evra said his plans going into every season included reaching the decider of Europe’s premier club competition.
The 33-year-old claimed the 2007-08 Champions League crown with United.
“I don’t think it happens by chance. Don’t call me arrogant but every time I play in this competition I think I can reach the final,” Evra said.
“I really like playing in the Champions League: the atmosphere brings the best out of me.”
Pity it’s nearly over. It was brilliant.
These games were fantastic. Helped me forget about the doom and gloom for a bit over the last two weeks. Loved the swimming,the track events& cycling Bolt and Co were amazing. And of course our own team did a great job. Hopefully it will inspire kids out there and bring pride back to this country.
I really enjoyed the games! Thought after the amazing opening ceremony everything that followed would be a let down but by god I was wrong! Absolutely loved watching the sports, some of which I had never seen before! London did good, it has to be said! And well done and congrats to all who flew the flag for Ireland! Ye all did us proud!(“,)
Great two weeks of entertainment and a chance to forget the doom and gloom. Just shows what a bit of success can do for our national sense of well being. We really needed the lift. Hope it’s not spoilt by petty wrangling over money and unnecessary interference by politicians. Best moments were of course Katie Taylor and the boxers and other great performances by Annalise Murphy, Cian O Connor, Rob Heffernan and Gavin Noble. A sport I had never seen before was the dressage and I found it fascinating. Horses can dance! Amazing!
Sweden playing France in the Handball not the Volleyball !
Two sports we do not Care about either way! Volleyball is only good if played on a beach by cute women ;)
What about the boxing officials sent hope and Russia saying boxing is fixed ???
And let’s not forget the thousands of Irish fans that made it over to London for the games, who otherwise might not have been able to go if it was halfway across the world, it probably is the closest we will ever have to a HOME GAMES so that has been fantastic, London should be proud of the games they have put on.