Jonny Evans admits he could not imagine Man Utd without Sir Alex Ferguson, as he prepares to celebrate 25 years in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
Red Devils defender struggling to imagine life without mentor
Jonny Evans admits he could not imagine Manchester United without Sir Alex Ferguson, as he prepares to celebrate 25 years in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
The Red Devils boss has drawn fitting tributes from across the football world as he prepares to reach that landmark on Sunday.
During his time with United, Ferguson has helped to turn the club into a global brand that continues to go from strength to strength.
Evans concedes that there will eventually become a day when the legendary Scot has to step down, but he is struggling to see when that will be.
At the age of 23, Ferguson is the only United boss Evans has even known and he admits it will be strange to see somebody else sat on the sidelines.
"I don't think anyone can imagine what it will be like with someone else in the dugout," said the Northern Ireland international.
"I have supported United all my life. He is the only manager I have known. It will be weird to see the club without him. He owns that seat.
"I don't suppose he would, but he has never given us any indication he was thinking about stopping. What would he do? He could travel the world but I am sure he would much rather be sat at Old Trafford."
Father figure
Evans is a product of the Old Trafford academy system and admits that working closely with Ferguson has helped to mould him and many of his team-mates into the players and people they are today.
"People use the phrase father figure quite a lot, but it is a big, tough world out there," he said.
"You have to stand on your own two feet at some stage.
"He is always there for you if you want to go and see him. But I am not the type to be knocking on his office door and look for a shoulder to cry on when things are not going so well.
"One thing he is good at is letting people find out how to deal with things themselves. You can't always be looked after. It makes you turn into a man."
