ONE OF US

“I think Alex should continue in the job because it is something special in his life,” said Cantona.

“I hope he continues and I am sure he will. I know he likes other things in his life but football is his life, and there wouldn’t be enough in his life without it.When you quit football it is not easy, your life becomes difficult. I should know because sometimes I feel I quit too young. I loved the game but I no longer had the passion to go to bed early, not to go out with my friends, not to drink, and not to do a lot of other things – the things I like in life. Alex Ferguson loves the game and will die on the United bench, I am sure of that.”

“Alex was the perfect manager for me,” said Cantona.

“I needed to blossom and in order to do that I needed to love and respect the manager. If you love someone but do not respect someone for knowing football exactly, then you cannot play for them. Some managers are fat and drink beer, and how can you respect someone who drinks and doesn’t stay fit. Alex showed an example and we followed him. I was 25 and met him at the best time of my career – he was the perfect manager to play for. Alex was obsessive about what to do in training, what to eat and drink, and what times to sleep, whereas some managers don’t know that.”

“People talk about how managers have come from France or other countries and brought these things into the game but he is the one who has given so much to English football.”

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