Patrice Evra calls out Jamie Carragher for ‘hate’ of Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored 801st goal

Patrice Evra calls out Jamie Carragher for ‘hate’ of Cristiano Ronaldo as he insists he should ‘stay in line’ after Man United star made history by scoring his 801st career goal in Arsenal victory


Patrice Evra has blasted Jamie Carragher for his criticisms of Cristiano Ronaldo, urging him to ‘stay in line’ after Ronaldo’s record-breaking 801st goal in a 3-2 win against Arsenal on Thursday.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher was embroiled in a furious row with Red Devils icon Roy Keane last week, insisting the 36-year-old is ‘not the player he was’.

But after netting twice in the victory against the Gunners – including the winner from the penalty spot – Evra called out Carragher’s ‘hate’ for Ronaldo, as Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry heaped praise on the Portuguese forward.

Patrice Evra has called out Jamie Carragher for ‘hate’ of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese forward scored his 800th and 801st goals in a 3-2 victory against Arsenal

The Portuguese forward scored his 800th and 801st goals in a 3-2 victory against Arsenal

He said: ‘There’s lot of talk about this player and I really don’t understand it. Some player like Jamie Carragher he had 737 games, today Cristiano scored 801 goals. And those kind of people talk about Cristiano. 

‘Sometimes I just think people have to stay in their line and I don’t understand that hate. Sometimes people wake up and want to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo.’

Shearer interrupted: ‘You have to put that into perspective, by the way. 801 goals. 801! Bonkers. We (Henry and I) might have reached that landmark if we had our training goals!’

Ronaldo’s first made it 2-1, sweeping home a Marcus Rashford cross first-time into the bottom corner.

Martin Odegaard equalised two minutes later but the 36-year-old had the final say, keeping his cool from the penalty spot to smash it down the middle and secure the win. 

Henry added: ‘We would need two lives (to eclipse Ronaldo’s record). If I come back, I might do it. This is ridiculous. Whoah.’

Former Newcastle striker Shearer continued: ‘Can you remember when one in two was a good stat? You’ve just got to sit back and go wow and applaud the guy because of his determination. Over the years it’s very difficult getting to the top but staying there is harder.

Roy Keane (left) and Carragher (right) previously debated Cristiano Ronaldo's role at the club

Roy Keane (left) and Carragher (right) previously debated Cristiano Ronaldo’s role at the club

‘Your drive, he’s wealthy, the injuries you get, the knocks you have to take, get up in the morning and go again. The world is looking at you to perform, week in week out, for years on end. To perform to the level he’s at, to score the goals he does is incredible.’ 

Keane and Carragher had previously exploded into a screaming match as they debated Ronaldo’s role after the United star started on the bench against Chelsea.

United made the surprise decision to omit their superstar from the starting XI as they held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.  

Ronaldo came on as a 64th-minute substitution, but showed frustration after talking his way into the referee’s book for a yellow card and heading straight down the tunnel as soon as the final whistle went. 

Liverpool icon Carragher insisted the Portugal international, now 36, is 'not the player he was'

Liverpool icon Carragher insisted the Portugal international, now 36, is ‘not the player he was’

Carragher continued to say Ronaldo's omission from the team at 36 should not be 'big news', but United legend Keane questioned why Ronaldo did not start in a big game against Chelsea

Carragher continued to say Ronaldo’s omission from the team at 36 should not be ‘big news’, but United legend Keane questioned why Ronaldo did not start in a big game against Chelsea

Following the match, Roy Keane questioned why Ronaldo was left on the bench, though fellow pundit Jamie Carragher said it shouldn’t be a ‘big story’.

Carragher said on Sky Sports after the game: ‘Ronaldo’s not the player he was, he still obviously delivering in terms of goals. But it shouldn’t be this big story Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t start every game or at times comes off. 

In response, Keane said: ‘Not every game Jamie but this is Chelsea, this is a big game for Manchester United… he’s played 800 games in his career. You’re still thinking if you want the ball to fall to anybody in world football, even at 36, it’s Ronaldo.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk