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“When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”
Greater mortals might attempt to derive some spiritualistic or motivational significance from the above lines. But those who have already recognized the speaker and the occasion know that these lines are nothing but a statement of defiance; a signature idiosyncratic expression of audacity and recalcitrance that became the identity of one of the greatest transcendent football stars of all time.
The quotes are credited to the sibylline French maestro, Eric Cantona. The occasion was the press conference to mark his return after being banned for 9 months, on charges of assaulting an opposition fan. The “Kung-Fu Kick” as the event is famously known is one of the many shenanigans that the mercurial star pulled in his hugely controversial career.
His temperament and ill-advised act of vandalism cost United the 1993-94 league title. His time at United was marked with several incidents of dishevelment, defying several codes and norms; and he did it under the ever vigilant eyes of Sir Alex. But despite all his transgressions, why is Eric Cantona regarded as one of the greatest of all time?
The answer lies in the question itself. His short-comings were his strength. He was a rebel by nature, refusing to be subdued by norms that didn’t make sense to him. Qualities that saw him develop an open disregard for rules off the pitch, and for opponents on it. His self-belief made him into a bloviating self-obsessed bully, but the same qualities saw him out-fight and dominate opponents on the field. Even though you may hate him off the pitch, nobody could dare to dismiss his talents on the pitch.
Eric Cantona is always going to be remembered as the player who changed the fortunes of Manchester United. The Manchester United fans of today are spoilt by the continued domination and the barrage of superlatives that the team has garnered in the last two decades. However, the situation was much different in the year 1992; the year that Cantona joined United.
United then did command a healthy respect in the league and Europe but had nothing to show for their exploits. They hadn’t won their domestic league title since 1967, and were also short-pressed in Europe. The legacy and heritage of the august franchise demanded a more comprehensive endowment, a fact that their highly ambitious gaffer was well aware of. Ferguson knew that the team had the talent to win it all, but lacked the character to do so. Many a times the team faltered, coming second best in encounters that they dominated but failed to garner the points. The killer touch, the winning mentality, the never-say-die spirit were qualities that Ferguson knew his team needed to develop to realize its true potential. The team needed a leader who stood for these qualities and could help the team imbibe these values.
In November 1992, Eric Cantona joined Manchester United for a reported fee of £ 1.2 million. The signing raised a few questions as Fergie was signing a player whose resume was soiled with many eccentric antics, and many believed he would have an adverse impact on the dressing room. But Cantona put all these doubts to rest, starring for the Red Devils and leading them to their first league title victory since 1967.
In his 5 seasons with United, Cantona won the league title 4 times, amassing 82 goals in 182 matches and pitching in with 62 assists. He wasn’t very quick, but his technical ability combined with his gusto and irrepressible desire to dominate established him as the premier attacking player in the league. His inception saw a rapid and marked improvement in the whole level of football at United. The training ground rituals became far more competitive; the mentality to express one’s creative abilities took predominance over playing the traditional English version of reserved and compact football. Players started to link up better, the runs were more intelligent and bold, the passes accurate and incisive. And at the pivot of this renaissance stood Cantona, dictating terms with flair, orchestrating moves and providing the fans with several magical moments that entranced them, driving them into an euphoric delusion as they stood up and sung in chorus:-“OOH AAH CANTONA !!”
Cantona and the “Fledglings”
Cantona’s persona and aura left his teammates in awe of him, and he reveled in the role of being their patriarch. His fearlessness and fortitude had a huge influence on the youngsters who imbibed many of his qualities. Ferguson had taken a huge gamble in forming the back-bone of his team with Academy Graduates of United, and with so many raw teenagers suiting up to play under such a bright spotlight, Cantona’s role in the team became even more important. His presence ensured that the spotlight never diverted to these lads and the young stars of tomorrow had a very smooth and protected introduction into Premier League football. In any other team this could lead to disgruntlement and resentment, but Sir Alex ensured that such emotions never perpetuated the minds of the young players, and they went on to make the most of the opportunity to play under the tutelage of Cantona.
Cantona wasn’t a traditional leader. He couldn’t make inspirational speeches and didn’t always behave responsibly on the pitch. However, he led the team in a far more significant way. He imparted character, confidence, and self-belief to the young and exuberant squad. The vision of a dauntless, persevering and relentless Cantona became the signature image of the Red Devils squad in the 1990′s, and this spirit was imbibed by the future United squads, becoming the identity of the Red Devils en route to scripting an insuperable legacy.
Most teams that United faced came in with a conservative mindset, committed to defense and eager to impose their physical might. Such games required a moment of magic to unclog the defense and open up an opportunity for the forwards. And more often than not it was Cantona who wielded his magic.
If Cantona was big against the minnows he was herculean against the better teams. In encounters when United were on the back-foot, dominated and battered by the opposition, the team derived courage and resilience from their enigmatic striker. They were ready to grind it out, to fight through the situation and bide their time. They had faith in the quality of their squad, they knew that they would get their chances. And when the chance does fall, they knew that Cantona would be at the end of that chance. The killer instinct, the never say-die attitude and the atrocity to believe in the darkest of times are emotions that led the foundation for many an inspired comeback victories. The biggest extolment of these qualities is his legendary volley to beat Newcastle, then league leaders in April, 1995. United had been totally humbled by Newcastle in the match and couldn’t get any significant control over the game. The match seemed to be heading for a draw and would have extinguished United’s title challenge. However, Cantona knew that the contest wasn’t yet over and he still believed that they could win. His belief saw daylight as he latched onto a rare chance and scored, leading United to an almost apologetic victory. The goal wasn’t unsurpassable in quality but immeasurable in importance. The clutch gene as they say!!
The greatest sports story in that decade was most probably United winning the Champions league final at Munich. They were dominated and humbled by Bayern for most parts of the game and had failed to create any significant chances. However, the squad fought on, and successfully kept the deficit to just a single goal. Come the 90th minute, the whole of Munich was celebrating, in expectations of being a few moments away from being crowned Champions of Europe.
But, the next few moments desecrated all their hopes, as the resilient Red Devils stole the trophy from right under Bayern’s nose. And within the entire hoopla one can’t fail to notice the real influence of Cantona. The players who had accomplished the dramatic victory had showcased a remarkable spirit, courage, and resilience; qualities that Cantona had perpetuated all his life and hoped that the youngsters imbibed from him. The squad had their backs to the wall, but rather than succumbing to the challenge, they chose to fight on, deriving aggression from their anguish and believing in their abilities. To hope against hope and prove the same to be true; a quality that defines the “KING”. That day in Munich, Cantona made his biggest contribution to Manchester United. The heart of a champion indeed!
