Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football, Eric Cantona
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football, Eric Cantona
One Manchester United player was treated differently to everyone else by Sir Alex Ferguson and was like a 'long-lost son'.
Ferguson managed several high-profile players during his legendary managerial spell at Man United.
From Roy Keane to Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not to mention Eric Cantona, who joined the Old Trafford outfit from rivals Leeds United.
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Cantona was an iconic figure at Man United, having inspired them to four Premier League titles.
But he will also be remembered for his controversial ways whilst on the books at Man United.
He had an infamous bust-up with a Crystal Palace fan, kung-fu kicking a supporter in the stands.
Lee Sharpe, who played in that fixture at Selhurst Park, revealed Cantona was consoled in the dressing room by Ferguson, claiming any other player would have been sacked.
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Sharpe also said Cantona was treated differently to any other player.
"He was more than a teacher’s pet, and he was like a long-lost son to Sir Alex at one point," he said.
"Eric got treated totally different in the dressing room and things went on in the changing room, but the manager always stood up to Eric and never set a bad word against Eric.
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"It was incredible to watch, but quite funny. We were quite happy with it because at the end of the day, Eric was phenomenal.”
Sharpe added: “Anybody else, they would have got the sack immediately in the dressing room after the game [following the Palace incident].
"With Eric, the manager had an arm around him and told him, 'Don't worry, we will look after you', and they certainly did and brought him back, and he was brilliant.
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"Fair play to the manager and fair play to Eric. He changed the Premier League."
Cantona spent five seasons at Man United, scoring 82 goals across all competitions.
He won nine major trophies during his illustrious spell with the club, including four league titles and two FA Cups.