An eccentric, football-mad man from the continent who is famed for his enigmatic air and egotistical certainties about his own ability.
In some ways, Jose Mourinho and Eric Cantona are very similar people.
In one big way – namely their playing philosophy – they are polar opposites.
Mourinho is notorious for his defensive, often negative, style of play with which he shuts up shop once his side gets in the lead. With ‘King Eric’, it was all about panache, about finesse, about eclat and other foreign words for flair.
The Manchester United legend is not too sure about the impending appointment of Mourinho as Red Devils manager and it all comes down to a doubt about whether his tactics will be welcomed by an already frustrated fanbase.
“I love José Mourinho, but in terms of the type of football he plays I don’t think he is Manchester United,” Cantona said in an interview with The Guardian. “I love his personality, I love the passion he has for the game, his humour. He is very intelligent, he demands 100% of his players. And of course he wins things.
“But I don’t think it’s the type of football that the fans of Manchester United will love, even if they win. He can win with Manchester United. But do they expect that type of football, even if they win? I don’t think so.”
Cantona believes his former side missed a trick by failing to nab Pep Guardiola, allowing him to go to their noisiest neighbours, and the Frenchman revealed that he’d be open to taking the job if United were to decide that they wanted a bit more elan to rival Guardiola across the city.
“I do many things and I’m very happy,” Cantona continued. “But if they asked me to become the manager of Manchester United, I would. Because Guardiola is in Manchester City and they want someone to win things with wonderful football? It’s me.
“Yes, I’m serious. I say that just because it’s like when you are in the pub or the club. When you say you don’t care, all the girls want you. Maybe if I say I don’t care about that job, they will ask me. If they asked me, I’d work very hard, of course.”
