Eric Cantona » Manchester City

Cantona believes United will remain ahead of City

Linus — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:49:37 +0000

Eric Cantona has warned that Manchester City will never emulate Manchester United while they rely on big spending as the route to winning trophies.

“United are the best team. I don’t know how 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 who are bringing through young talent.”

Cantona also spoke out against players who claim they cannot settle in the area despite their massive wages.

“With these ‘unsettled’ players it depends where they come from – and why they come.

“If they come from Milan, maybe. If they come from – no, I don’t want to name cities, but I had a great time here.”

“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 important thing when you’re a professional player.”

“The greatest time you can have is on the pitch. I loved Manchester when I was here, and I loved the people. I had a great time.”

Cantona heads to Old Trafford today, leading the New York Cosmos team in Paul Scholes’ testimonial match.

“It is always great to come back, especially to Old Trafford.

“Every time I come back to Manchester I go to Old Trafford. It’s very special for me and it will be even more so this time.”

With Cosmos star Pele alongside him, Cantona disputed Ferguson’s claim that Scholes would be irreplaceable.

He added: “You can replace players, especially at a club like United with a great manager like Sir Alex Ferguson. Every time a player leaves we think the club can’t win any more and they still win things because they are very strong.”

“When I was there I played with two generations of players.

“Sir Alex introduced a lot of young players, and Paul Scholes was one of them.

“Now, I come back 15 years later and the manager is still here.

“You can replace players, especially a club like United with a great manager like Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I left, Ronaldo left, Hughes left, and United are still one of the best clubs in the world.”

As always, Cantona was queried on an eventual return to Manchester United where he is still revered.

“I didn’t want to do the typical ex-player thing and hang around my old club, though I must admit it’s great to be coming back with Cosmos,” Cantona said. “If I am going to try to be a manager I wanted to do it at a special club, and that it just what the New York Cosmos is. The city is unique and the club history is legendary.”

He replied: “Maybe I’ll die before Alex Ferguson! I’m sure he’ll be on the bench for ever because it’s his life.”

Cantona dismisses Manchester City’s title challenge

Linus — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:42 +0000

Eric Cantona has dismissed Manchester City’s Premier League title bid, despite their colossal spending spree this summer.

Cantona had a good spell playing against the Blues during his playing days for United but their new found financial might could mean they would be ready to mount a challenge for the Premier League title. While Sir Alex Ferguson has so far only bought youngsters Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling, Roberto Mancini has already signed David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng & Kolarov — with more signings expected.

Cantona insisted that Manchester City remained off the pace – referring to Michael Owen and Paul Scholes’ last minute winners in meetings between the two sides last season.

“If they (City) play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance!” Cantona joked.”

“But I think United have a team that is experienced and they have young players also – they still work on young players.”

“Chelsea don’t look so good, Liverpool seem to have problems. Arsenal? Maybe.”

Matthew McNulty: I hated Eric Cantona

Linus — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:02:24 +0000

Matthew McNulty has admitted that he hated co-star Eric Cantona when he played for Manchester United.

The Little Ashes star, a fan of United’s local rivals Manchester City, told Digital Spy that he had to put his feelings to one side when starring alongside the former footballer in upcoming movie Looking For Eric.

McNulty said: “I’m a City fan. It was difficult, it was harsh! Because there’s a United theme throughout it. I just had to kind of get over that and I did. But it’s a good film so it was well worth breaking my rules!

“As much as I hated Cantona as a player, I think to work with him was great. It was just a great film from an actor’s point of view, because there’s no director like Ken Loach for giving actors freedom.”