• Deciding to shake hands with Uruguayan 'the most pressure' • Evra tells of finding strength in year that has been 'so difficult'

Patrice Evra has admitted that deciding whether to shake Luis Suárez's hand ahead of Manchester United's game with Liverpool in February "was the most pressure I've ever felt in my life". Evra was due to face Suárez for the first time since the Uruguayan had been found guilty of racially abusing him during the sides' meeting at Anfield in October.

The left-back said: "That game was the most pressure I've ever felt in my life – and all to do with shaking his hand. It was very difficult to decide what to do before the game. Many people would never try to shake his hand. But I tried and he refused."

After Suárez refused to shake Evra's hand during the usual pre-game exchange between teams, within moments of the match starting the Frenchman collided with team-mate Rio Ferdinand as the central defender attempted to tackle the forward. Evra said: "For me, it was like: 'What's going on? You see the first tackle, a tackle on Rio Ferdinand? If it was Suárez then I could have had a red card straight away and I'd have been off the pitch."

Evra has also had to deal with the death of his 42-year-old brother from a heart attack. "What's happened to me this year, personal things, have been really tough," he said. "I know people will think I'm only saying this because we've lost the title but this is the most difficult season I've ever had for Manchester United.

"Before the game against Manchester City in October [eight days after the Anfield incident] my dad called to tell me I'd just lost my brother. Nothing can be more difficult than that to find out before a big game. When you add the Suárez case as well, I am very proud of myself. I've been stronger mentally than ever before. To keep going and to play every game is just amazing.

"I know that's not the way a Manchester United player should talk when you don't win the league. It sounds like I'm finding an excuse. But it's the truth. I don't want to lie to people. This year has been so difficult.

"Sometimes bad things can happen to you in your life, but you need to keep a cool head and be strong. In your life you have good and bad experiences but the most important thing is how you react, and I think I reacted in a good way. That's why I'm proud of myself."

United lost the league to City on Sunday, the final day of the season, due to City's better goal difference of eight.