Cantona: City players should stop moaning about Manchester life
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eric Cantona voiced doubts about what he perceives as Manchester City's attempts to buy their way to greatness last night, suggesting that those highly paid players who have declared they do not like life in Manchester have overlooked the fact that they are in the city to play football.
Cantona came to love Manchester without opulence. He initially set up home in the Manchester West Novotel in Worsley Brow, and then in the residential village of Boothstown, near Wigan. But he insisted last night that the distaste for Manchester expressed by Carlos Tevez – whose return to the city has been put back to Monday after manager Roberto Mancini agreed to extend his summer holiday by a few days – and the former Internazionale striker Mario Balotelli was alien to him.
"It depends on where they come from and why they come," Cantona said. "If they come from Milan maybe... I don't want to name cities. But the most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world with some of the best players in the world. That's the most important thing when you're a professional player. The greatest time you can have is on the pitch."
Cantona, who never lost to City in a United shirt, also insisted that United would retain their position as the pre-eminent side in the city because success could only be developed incrementally. "I don't know how they [City] work – maybe they work on the academy – but today they want to spend to build a team, to buy players. They've been successful because they won the FA Cup, but if they only do that they will not be as strong as United because United are working for the long-term by bringing through young talent."
The player, now 45, who bestrode Old Trafford for five and a half years from 1992, will return for the first time in a professional competitive capacity tomorrow night when the newly established New York Cosmos side he is helping develop become the first American side to play at the stadium. He appeared alongside Pele, honorary president of the Cosmos, to discuss the club's appearance in Paul Scholes' testimonial at the Umbro Space in central Manchester, but added: "I don't care about the spotlight and journalists. I can stay at home."
Yet Cantona wanted to convey the message about the Umbro-sponsored Cosmos, backed by the businessman and former Tottenham director Paul Kemsley who, with the Frenchman as sporting director and Georgio Chinaglia, Carlos Alberto and Shep Messing as ambassadors are looking to recapture their 1970s fame. The club was dissolved in 1985, 14 years after a galaxy of stars including Pele, George Best, Franz Beckenbauer made it the pre-eminent brand in the North American Soccer League.
Cantona, whose Cosmos side tomorrow will include six or seven of his young players as well as Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Nicky Butt, Dwight Yorke, Robbie Keane and Michel Salgado, wants to build through youth like Sir Alex Ferguson.
With Scholes in mind, Cantona added: "Every time a player leaves we think the club can't win any more and they still win things because they are very strong as an academy. They have a great history so any player can be replaced. Paul is still a great player but I left, Ronaldo left, Hughes left, and United are still one of the best clubs in the world."
He also doubted ever succeeding Ferguson. "Maybe I'll die before Alex Ferguson! I'm sure he'll be on the bench for ever because it's his life. He's been a great manager."
The goals, the glory... the kung-fu kicks
1992 Signs for United
1992-93 Instrumental in helping United to first League title since 1967.
1993-94 Helps United retain League title and adds FA Cup, scoring two in 4-0 win over Chelsea.
1994-95 Convicted of assault after infamous "kung-fu kick" at Crystal Palace, receiving an eight-month ban from English football.
1995-96 Returns to help United reclaim League crown, completing fairy-tale comeback by captaining United to FA Cup glory, scoring in 86th minute in 1-0 win over Liverpool.
1996-97 Leads from front to help United to their – and his – fourth League title in five seasons. Then Cantona bows out at the peak of his powers, announcing his retirement aged just 30
Honours Premier League: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97; FA Cup: 1993-94, 1995-96; Charity Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996. PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1993-94; FWA Footballer of the Year: 1995-96; Games: 190 (1) Goals: 88.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments