Sir Alex Ferguson raves about Eric Cantona’s impact at Man United after Hall of Fame induction
He was a messiah. HE TRANSFORMED US’: Sir Alex Ferguson hails Eric Cantona’s impact on Manchester United after being named to the Premier League Hall of Fame… and says signing Robin van Persie ‘won us the league’ in his last season
Sir Alex Ferguson had praised Eric Cantona for ‘transforming’ Manchester United after his arrival in 1992, calling him ‘a messiah’.
The legendary Scot spoke about his time at Old Trafford after being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame and reflected on his successes and the players who shaped his reign.
He spoke fondly of Cantona, who joined Leeds United and became an instant hit with fans after arriving mid-season: scoring nine times in the 1992-93 campaign to inspire United to their first Premiership title League and then scored 25 times the following year. .
The Frenchman won four titles in total at United and also lifted two FA Cups, with Ferguson saying he was instrumental in his early success in a short documentary.
“When Eric Cantona came along, he was a messiah,” Ferguson said in the video. ‘He transformed us. The trust factor. There’s no doubt.
Sir Alex Ferguson has raved about Eric Cantona’s impact at United, calling him ‘a messiah’
Cantona joined United in 1992 and helped the team win its first Premier League title.
Ferguson said his motivation was to win the title for United at all costs after coming to the club in 1986 when they were struggling to keep up with their rivals.
After the first title came along in 1993, the former manager said he “opened the door” for the team to achieve more success, as he revealed his reputation as a fierce manager who often gave the “hairdryer” treatment when his players ‘forgot their expectations’.
“My main impulse and my main intention was to win the league,” he added. ‘That was my challenge. There was no question about that. I thought this was an opportunity to rebuild the football club.
‘Winning the first championship opened the door for us. The players never gave up. The team that can smell victory is an amazing achievement.
“We don’t win every league title, but we try to win every week. I could lose my temper if we lost a game. You know why? They forgot about the expectation. They forgot what we worked for every day. When they fell short of those expectations, they did.’
Ferguson also claimed that Robin van Persie was one of the main reasons United won the 2012–13 Premier League title.
Ferguson won a total of 13 Premier League titles with United, including five FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League twice.
He retired after the 2012-13 season having last won the Premier League, crediting the signing of Robin van Persie with inspiring the team to cross the finish line. The Dutchman scored 26 goals after his arrival from Arsenal and papered over the cracks in an aging team.
“You challenge the league every year, it’s your job,” he continued. “When I put on that shirt as a Man United player, the expectation is to win. The last [title-winning season]- I think the signing of Robin Van Persie won us the league.’
Ferguson, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame along with former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, said it was “an honour” to be recognized and his main motivation was “to send the fans home happy”.
Ferguson (left) was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame along with Arsene Wenger (right)
“I am truly delighted to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It is an honor when you receive recognition like this. However, it’s not just about me as a person. It’s about the work at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I’m also proud for the club, the staff and my players.
“My job was to send the fans home happy,” he said. “United’s history and my own expectations were the things that drove me, and then I had to try to develop all my players with the same expectations and make sure we could go out there and meet them.”
“I feel Arsene is a very worthy member as he transformed Arsenal Football Club fantastically. They became a tough team to compete with and we both wanted to win, which motivated us even more.
“Over the years since retirement, we would go to dinner together at a small restaurant that he knows well in Switzerland. He’s a really interesting man and I enjoy his company, but my job is still to choose the wine!’
