Eric Cantona expects Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to lead Man Utd to league title ‘soon’

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Eric Cantona has backed former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to put what he learned from Sir Alex Ferguson to good use and lead Manchester United to another Premier League title.

The Frenchman, who won the league four times – including two doubles – during his four a half years at Old Trafford in the 1990s, is convinced that, like Pep Guardiola did under Johan Cruyff at Barcelona, Solskjaer gleaned what he needed from the Scot during his playing days and he can now mount a serious challenge to the Spaniard’s Manchester City side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cantona told Sky Sports News: “It’s important to win any kind of trophies, and United still have a chance to win the league – but a small chance.

“But in the near future, I hope next year they can win the league. Now they have found somebody like Ole, who was a player when Alex Ferguson was manager – like Guardiola was a player when Johan Cruyff was the manager of Barcelona.

Manchester United legend Eric CantonaManchester United legend Eric Cantona
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona

“He learned a lot with Johan Cruyff and he became a great manager with the same kind of football identity, philosophy of football.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Ole was a player when Alex Ferguson was there and he learned a lot. He was lucky to play with Alex Ferguson – like I was, but I decided to do something else, and other players too.

“Ole decided to become a manager, so I think it’s great to have today a manager who knows the identity of this club and the philosophy and the DNA.

“He’s got the DNA of this club and he learned a lot with Alex Ferguson, so I can’t wait for United to win the league again – and it will be soon.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Second-placed United, who have not won the league since 2013, are currently 10 points behind leaders City with four games remaining and the more realistic trophy opportunity this season will come in the Europa League final against Villarreal on May 26.

However, off the pitch, the club – or at least their ownership – are facing a fresh battle for hearts and minds following the part they played in the European Super League debacle.

A scathing Cantona said: “We’ve heard for 20 years that some rich clubs wanted to build this league and it’s unbelievable that, in 20 years, none of them could anticipate the reaction of the fans and didn’t inform anybody.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“What is unbelievable is that, in 20 years, all the guys went to school until the age of 30 or 35, so they are very smart, intelligent, and none of them could anticipate the reaction of the fans.

“Now they just have to say ‘sorry’ because now they realise that it was just a stupid idea and they had to respect the fans.

“It’s good sometimes that something like this happens and you build something else and something stronger from that. I’m very optimistic. I hope they will use this moment maybe a lot to give more power to the fans.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “That’s the way Manchester United built this club. In the bad moments and tragedies and success, always try to unite the people and use any moment of history to build this club even stronger.”

READ MORE:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor