Evans concedes form slump

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has admitted that he allowed complacency to creep into his game last season.

Evans explained that the strong start to his Premier League career he enjoyed at United and while on loan at Sunderland left him feeling ‘immune’ from criticism, and expecting success to come too easily.

“Maybe I took my eye off the ball a little bit. Maybe I relaxed a bit too much and thought it was going to come as easily as the previous two seasons,” Evans told the Manchester Evening News.

“If you looked over the years, a lot of youngsters have come into the team and had a good season or two, then take a little dip. Sometimes you do think you are immune from it.”

The Northern Ireland international credited his friends and family with helping him turn around his fortunes and keeping his feet on the ground.

“All of a sudden it hits you,” he said. “You have to regroup and have a word with yourself. I have enough people around me who are happy to bring me down to earth. My family and friends do that.”

“I have friends who would say: ‘You didn’t play too well today’. I might have thought they were being cheeky at the time but they are right. They will tell you.”

“Sometimes you have to take on board what the people closest to you say. You have to be honest with yourself as well.”

United take on rivals Manchester City in a top of the table clash on Sunday and Evans hopes to take part in his club’s biggest games as a player feeling stronger than ever.

“I feel more assured now,” he said. “When you go through a stage of not playing well, there is a bit of pressure on you and you can feel sometimes the crowd are maybe getting on your back – you think: ‘Stuff it, what have I got to lose?’ You go out there, relax, play your football and go home.”

“A lot of players coming to United can struggle. I have never been one to shirk a challenge. Whenever things are tough, I always feel as though I can respond and not hide away.”