When Tribalfootball.com last spoke to Wes Brown, the Old Trafford great was hopeful of a strong performance against Liverpool in the upcoming FA Cup quarterfinal. It is fair to say he got just that.
"Yeah, it was a good day," he says with a chuckle, when we put it to him that his wish came through in one of the most thrilling games played all season in England.
"I had a chat with my friends and we were all agreeing it's probably one of the best cup games we've had at Old Trafford. With the whole experience, the ups and downs, the emotions, so we've actually put it in the top three of cup games, we've seen at Old Trafford.
"The noise, then all of a sudden, no noise, and you can just hear the Liverpool supporters before it was the other way around and you only heard us. It was a great, great game to be at," says Brown, who was once again impressed by Diogo Dalot.
"I think he's just gotten better and better all season. He's reached an age now where his confidence is really high. He's happy with how he's playing. He's expressing himself and that's always a big point in your career. When things go well in your career, the boost and confidence you can get from that is immense," Brown says while holding Dalot up against a team-mate.
"Wan-Bissaka played the Liverpool game and man-marked Mo Salah. We know exactly, what he can do and he did it perfectly. But, Dalot has kept him out most of the season."
Have you ever seen a Man. United full-back passing the ball as well as he did?
"Well, definitely not me and definitely not Gaz (Gary Neville)!" Brown states with a big grin before agreeing with himself Dennis Irwin was capable of something similar. Irwin played under former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, while current manager Erik ten Hag faces constant criticism. Unfairly, according to Brown.
"We've had disappointing games. We've had games where, if we'd have won them, we'd be really pushing now for that fourth place. But I think in general, the fans are very happy with Eric. We know it's going to be tough.
"Considering the ups and downs we've had and where we are and the cups we're still in, it's OK. We're doing well. Obviously, we want to be doing better in the league in general. But with the sort of performances we've had, some very good, some very bad this season, to still be where we are, is credit to him."
Old Trafford really sprung into life in the aforementioned game against Liverpool, but the old Theater of Dreams is still in need of a thorough make-up. In fact, a complete make-over, even a die-hard Man United fan like Wes Brown thinks.
"I was born in Manchester. I know the history. That's my club. It's my dad's club. But you know what? When you travel around the world and you go to all these unbelievable stadiums, I also think you need to be the best in the world at that as well. That is the honest truth.
"I haven't been to Tottenham yet, but everybody tells me the experience it's just on a different level. We went to Las Vegas on the pre-season tour and visited the Allegiant Stadium where LA Raiders play now. It was the best thing I've ever been to in my life. I just think it would be spectacular to build another stadium while keeping certain parts," Brown believes, just as he believes Jonny Evans should get a new contract for another season.
"Jonny understood he came in as back up and maybe play a few times. But we've had such of a nightmare of injuries this season at the back. He's had to play more than he should. He wouldn't have expected to play game after game and he's really come to his own.
"We know he's got the experience, and he is obviously not going to play every game, as he's a bit older now and we all know what it's like on the body, physically. But brain-wise, positioning, can he get us through a game? 100 per cent he can," Brown states with confidence.
- Wes Brown was talking to Tribalfootball.com on behalf of www.instantcasinos.com
