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There are some who spend their whole lives aspiring to be leaders; others, like Eric Cantona and Robin Van Persie, possess an overpowering magnetism that others cannot help but follow.
Sir Alex Ferguson said that the impact Robin van Persie has made since becoming a Manchester United player reminds him of that of Eric Cantona. The Dutchman has already scored 19 goals in 25 games this season and has notched up a number of assists for others. Many of them have proved to be vital winners, most noticeably the strike against Manchester City early in December.
He has stood out above all other so far this season and is proving to be the brooding catalyst and the missing piece in United’s jigsaw (just like Eric in 1992/93 season) that failed to capture the title last season. A point equally accepted by Manchester City’s manager Roberto Mancini as well.
“I think Van Persie, for United, is an important player. It is clear he changed this situation. In this moment, the difference is this.”
Like Eric, Van Persie’s arrival at Old Trafford was so sudden that it surprised a lot of people, but what a piece of business it is turning out to be. He is a magic footballer with the poise and assuredness that is impossible to ignore. Fans love watching him play, he is an entertainer, a crowd puller and an inspiration to the fellow players at Old Trafford.
In a very short span of time, he has developed a great affinity with the supporters with his enigmatic displays on the football pitch. The famous Stretford end mostly indulged in the melodious cacophony of Van Persie’s chants, testament to his growing popularity amongst the fans. It’s not just his vital winners that has captured the attention of supporters, but his overall influence on the team as a whole which has mesmerized one and all. As a player, he has provided United with a bit of magic and mystique. As a club icon, he is the most humble and modest professional around, always giving credit to his teammates, fans and coaches for his recent successes in the famous red shirt.
Just like Cantona, he has the ability to do anything with the ball, and yet there is no over-indulgence. It’s his ability to hold up the ball, let others come into the play and pick up a simple, invariably right pass onto the path of his teammate which is his greatest asset, and such is his touch and technique that even the most routine change of possession is carried off with a classy panache. In front of goal, he is as deadly as a tiger hunting down its prey. Even half chances are converted with such great aplomb that it looks so simple to the eye, as if it was the only outcome that could have happened. The bigger the occasion, the better Van Persie gets, as he has shown in his match winning displays in tough away fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Like Eric, he has proved to be the difference between winning and losing this term.
With such charismatic displays on the field, the impact that he has already had on fellow players at United is enormous. Especially the younger players (Welbeck, Cleverley, Chicharito), just like Cantona did it during his years with United, Van Persie is currently inspiring awe in them by all being himself. Not to mention the other players like Rooney, Valencia, Young, and Carrick, who are all getting motivated and excited with such quality up ahead with them. Even the senior and experienced players are taking notice of Van Persie’s class. Giggs had this to say after watching Van Persie score a scorcher in the recent 0-4 romp of Wigan:
“I was right next to him when he scored [his first goal],” said Giggs. “It’s the technique and the calmness…everything about the goal epitomizes him. He’s just a class act and a great goalscorer.”
There were a lot of eyebrows raised when Sir Alex Ferguson spent 24 million pounds on a 29-year old player at the start of the season. But now, with half the season gone and Manchester United sitting pretty at the top of the table, 7 points clear of the chasing pack, having scored the highest number of goals, largely coming from the magical feet of that 29 year old, I guess all those eyebrows have been pushed back into their natural positions. However, there is still another half of the season left, and there is no need for United supporters to get carried away, as the last season’s cheers from that late Sergio Aguero winner from their noisy neighbours could still be clinging to their ears.
For now, they can just wait and put their faith in the inspirational Dutchman to continue weaving his magic at the Theatre of Dreams and hope to see him with the Premier League champion’s medal around his neck come May, which he truly deserves.
Eric Cantona arrived at Old Trafford and started an era of success for United and SAF, by instigating the winning mentality among the players, which still continues to be felt around at Manchester United. With Cantona long gone now, there is another player coming close to emulating the football artistry once put on show by the mercurial Frenchman. With Ferguson in the twilight of his career, he can build yet another successful team around Robin van Persie and finally put an end to his glorious fairytale, in what would be a perfect symmetry of starting and ending with two talisman showmen.
