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Cantona: Honour To Wear United’s Number 7

February 23, 2011 85 Comments

Eric Cantona has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to work with players to ensure that he gets the best out of them. Whilst his man-management is second to none, it has been widely reported that our manager made special allowances for Eric that he hasn’t made for any of the others.

Cantona has also revealed the pride he had in wearing United’s famous number 7 shirt.

“Ferguson takes strong personalities and works with them psychologically,” said Cantona. “It is very important. It worked for me, 100 per cent. It was for the team. I accepted everything because he gave me freedom on the pitch. He gave me the No. 7 shirt and it became important to me, though I might not have realised its importance in the beginning. I never felt the pressure. He had a kind of confidence in me to give me the No. 7. It was an honour.”






Author: Scott   Filed Under Eric Cantona
 

85 Comments

  1. February 23, 2011 at 14:42
    hammons says:

    finally a man that is worthy of making a glowing remark about United. Long Live The King

  2. February 23, 2011 at 14:43
    FletchTHEMAN says:

    To right your are Eric! The shirt is a symbol and you put your mark on it.
    Maybe the greatest number 7 of all, but a big deal all the same.

  3. February 23, 2011 at 14:46
    Giles Oakley says:

    It’s interesting that he didn’t realise the significance of the No 7 shirt initially, but came to do so. It’s always great when players take on board the history and traditions of the club and begin to feel they have a stake in it, and wish to embellish the record with their own achievements, as with Patrice Evra today.

  4. February 23, 2011 at 14:53
    shubhangmanred says:

    Eric you are a Giggend!!

  5. February 23, 2011 at 14:55
    redevil_83 says:

    that #7 should go to nani now

  6. February 23, 2011 at 14:56
    red_october says:

    I still don’t understand why Owen wears the number 7. Not that he isn’t worthy to wear the number but he doesn’t play regular enough. Maybe it is just a laugh at liverpool. I’m ready to see our next No. 7 rise.

    http://www.hdfootballwallpaper.com/eric_cantona.html

  7. February 23, 2011 at 15:09
    Ryandunny says:

    I wouldn’t mind seeing Nani wearing the number 7 shirt… he certainly deserves it after this season…

  8. February 23, 2011 at 15:15
    bobbycharlie1968 says:

    I’m all for giving Nani the No. 7, in my opinion he’s more than earned it and the three other players who I think are worthy of wearing it (The Berb, our scouse cunt of a number 10, and Chicarito) wouldn’t want to wear it next year/wouldn’t want it full stop. Nani has become our pivotal player, give him the 7 and make him a legend.

  9. February 23, 2011 at 15:18
    bruce thomas says:

    Off topic…

    I see that cheating Chelsea — who bribed the police to call off the fixture at Stamford Bridge last year (when not one single solitary flake of snow fell on west London) — now have the luxury of a week to prepare for the rearanged fixture while we have to play two away games. They also have £75 million’s worth of new signings while our midfield is depleted by injury.

    I hope we batter the cunts.

  10. February 23, 2011 at 15:21
    bobbycharlie1968 says:

    @bruce thomas

    We will batter them, they are on a wretched run, they’ll raise their game against us, but if we perform well as we should we will destroy them, they’re fans are shit, our away fans are among the best in the world and that’ll motivate the lads while the rentboys boo because torres hasnt scored

  11. February 23, 2011 at 15:22
    wayne says:

    some players are superstitious about shirt numbers maybe nani wouldn’t want it

  12. February 23, 2011 at 15:38
    ManchesterMike says:

    I’d like to wait and see what happens over the summer and next season w/ our CM. Maybe SAF will find a new personality worthy of the 7 who can relieve some of our midfield woes and turn it into a strength.

  13. February 23, 2011 at 15:39
    Koss says:

    Thank u mr catalyst of success.long live the king saf n united

  14. February 23, 2011 at 15:44
    keano86 says:

    OOOOOOOOOOH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH……………………………..

    (nani’s def earned it, no question)

  15. February 23, 2011 at 15:59
    Ryandunny says:

    @wayne

    True he mightn’t but Fergie might convince him like he did with Ronaldo when he came….
    The only problem I see with given Nani the number 7 is all the media will compare him to Ronaldo even more then usual

  16. February 23, 2011 at 16:04
    parryheid says:

    Bruce thomas.

    its unfair to say there was no snow to merit the postponement I distinctly recall seeing a Chistmas scene in somebodies window display.

  17. February 23, 2011 at 16:07
    wayne says:

    @Ryandunny think thats a good point ronaldo leaving was the best thing to happen for nani has become his own man.

  18. February 23, 2011 at 16:11
    CedarsDevil says:

    Who is this Cantona you speak of?

  19. February 23, 2011 at 16:13
    kanchelskis says:

    Teams for tonight, ya’ll?

    I don’t think our back five is in doubt: VDS; Evra, Smalling, Vidic, Rafael

    Nani, Fletcher and Carrick are all guaranteed starters, but then what?

    Gibbo in the middle with Fletch wide right and Nani left?
    Fletch in the middle with Rooney wide left and Nani right?

    If the former, Rooney up front on his own.
    If the latter, Berba up front in his own.

    Right?

  20. February 23, 2011 at 16:14
    GoatinaUnitedShirt says:

    Mr Eric very few have deserved it as much as you.

  21. February 23, 2011 at 16:19
    King Eric says:

    Berbatov simply must start. He keeps the ball and uses it well. Rooney cant trap a bag of cement at the minute. Rooney on the left, Berba up top.

  22. February 23, 2011 at 16:19
    DohaRed says:

    You guys crazy? Owen doesn’t deserve any Man United shirt, let alone 7. Nani getting better, but not in the same breath as Best, Cantona, Ronaldo. He cant even shoot straight yet. We should temporarily retire the 7 shirt until someone actually earns it.

  23. February 23, 2011 at 16:21
    kanchelskis says:

    King Eric says:
    Berbatov simply must start. He keeps the ball and uses it well.

    He also hasn’t scored a single goal in the CL knockout stages…

    Of course, he’s had limited opportunities to do so in SAF’s preferred European 4-5-1, with Rooney being chosen as a spearhead, but I suppose our lack of wingers may give Berba this opportunity today? I doubt it though – I’m afraid I think we’ll see him on the bench.

  24. February 23, 2011 at 16:22
    King Eric says:

    kanchelskis – Yeah 3 years is a long time but you answered your own query mate. He isnt given the chance.

  25. February 23, 2011 at 16:22
    CedarsDevil says:

    Latter, former? Mr Eric? Where on earth do yo guys come up with these words. Who the hell is this person you speak of? A goat in a United shirt? Must be a funny sight, I saw a goat that smoked a ciggy through its nose now that was funny. No offense to goats mind you, goat cheese is second to none

  26. February 23, 2011 at 16:23
    King Eric says:

    Dohared No pal you are the crazy one. Without Nani we would be about 4th in the table. 10 goals and 13 or 14 assists. Yeah shit that iniit?

  27. February 23, 2011 at 16:26
    kanchelskis says:

    King Eric

    Yes, and I think this season he’s shown enough confidence to merit a start tonight. But going on the City game, which was at home, I don’t think he has a chance of starting tonight. I think it will be the Fletcher-as-a-winger option.

  28. February 23, 2011 at 16:29
    Ryandunny says:

    DohaRed

    Was Ronaldo in the same breath as them when he got handed the shirt?
    If he can’t shoot straight then it must be a mystery that he has ten goals this season..
    He has deserved it…
    I hate this retire the shirt crap…. ya if a players passes away then fine but it’s a disrespect to the players at the club that your basically saying none of are good enough for the shirt.

  29. February 23, 2011 at 16:33
    willierednut says:

    Fuck the numbers! It’s the players, that matter.

  30. February 23, 2011 at 16:39
    CedarsDevil says:

    How can we fuck the numbers? Players with out numbers would mean nothing, to us they are only numbers

  31. February 23, 2011 at 16:42
    kanchelskis says:

    I am not a number.

  32. February 23, 2011 at 16:46
    CedarsDevil says:

    yes you are, ONLY a number

  33. February 23, 2011 at 16:47
    shubhangmanred says:

    I think Nani should start as a left winger with Rooney as a right winger.
    Meaning a 4-5-1 formation with Berba as lone striker.
    VDS
    Rafa Smalling Vida Paddy

    Rooney Scholes Fletcher Nani

    Berba

    The reason i would like to deploy Nani as a LW, because once Tony returns, Nani might get shifted there anyway. So he better get used to it. Plus he has enough quality to play left. Also Rooney may play better at right.

  34. February 23, 2011 at 16:53
    willierednut says:

    You’re cucumbers.

  35. February 23, 2011 at 16:55
    NotoriousRedDevil says:

    One word to describe Eric Cantona. Legend. Reading this post and the importance of the No. 7 Shirt, I never understood why Fergie gave Owen the coveted No. 7 shirt.

  36. February 23, 2011 at 17:00
    CedarsDevil says:

    Funny that…….. Tomatoes come to mind

  37. February 23, 2011 at 17:03
    willierednut says:

    Fergie likes wee Owen. It’s the other Owen, that drives him nuts.

  38. February 23, 2011 at 17:08
    CedarsDevil says:

    Some one is sure obsessed with nuts!

  39. February 23, 2011 at 17:14
    willierednut says:

    You’re nuts.

  40. February 23, 2011 at 17:25
    Costas says:

    I always found it interesting how in World football the shirt number wiith the biggest history behind it was 10, but at United it’s 7. And we’ve had some great ones were it. And they’ve all silenced Shitty at one point or another. :)

  41. February 23, 2011 at 17:25
    CedarsDevil says:

    Thanks, I know…. It is a blessing to know btw :-)

  42. February 23, 2011 at 17:28
    willierednut says:

    Cedars – Need not worry, I’m fucking nuts too. ;)

  43. February 23, 2011 at 17:33
    CedarsDevil says:

    Think I would call you a genius other wise?

  44. February 23, 2011 at 17:34
    Costas says:

    williered-nuts

    ;)

  45. February 23, 2011 at 17:39
    willierednut says:

    I’ve got nothing on the Goat. :D

  46. February 23, 2011 at 17:40
    CedarsDevil says:

    Seems Costas is on the same boat too!

  47. February 23, 2011 at 17:42
    CedarsDevil says:

    Almonds the lot of you, goats et al!

  48. February 23, 2011 at 17:45
    willierednut says:

    I’ll take a score draw tonight and hope Stoke can do likewise at Arsenal.

  49. February 23, 2011 at 17:45
    geneside says:

    i admire owen but he has been shackled with injuries after joining the club…
    i would like saf to play him more often..
    believe me lads he s worth carrying the remarkable no in our club….

  50. February 23, 2011 at 17:48
    GoatinaUnitedShirt says:

    willie you had better not put your nuts on me either, your wrong in the head sort yourself out!!

  51. February 23, 2011 at 17:51
    smartalex says:

    Careful! Goat is a peanut butter.

  52. February 23, 2011 at 17:55
    CedarsDevil says:

    Peanut butter, now that sounds like a filling treat……

    Now where the fuck is our ‘Ahead of our game post’ ??

    I have a lot more of nonsense to post here!

  53. February 23, 2011 at 17:56
    GoatinaUnitedShirt says:

    you’ll end up butternut squash

  54. February 23, 2011 at 17:57
    smartalex says:

    Land in the butternut soup!

  55. February 23, 2011 at 17:59
    smartalex says:

    Eric is saying this is a Head of the Game thread. And Sir Alex is always ahead of the game.

  56. February 23, 2011 at 18:01
    GoatinaUnitedShirt says:

    BROATH-er these jokes are getting corny

  57. February 23, 2011 at 18:02
    willierednut says:

    Arsenal fans plan to give Shawcross plenty of grief tonight. Come on Stoke, sicken the whinger!

  58. February 23, 2011 at 18:13
    geneside says:

    i want the live blog……
    i will not be able to see tonights match…..

  59. February 23, 2011 at 18:16
    FletchTHEMAN says:

    I have no problem with Owen in the No 7 shirt.
    He has been injured, due to chronic miss management before he came to united, so may not be on the radar for the current fan. But Owen is class. Not sure of all the facts but recall that Fergie offered it to him by which you might read, that Fergie asked Owen to wear it. Funny that you say Eric didn’t understand what it meant and that Ronaldo “grew into it”. Owen would have understood it from the off and what it meant to the club. Saying he didn’t deserve it based on current form might be fair enough, lads been saddled with injury, but to say he didn’t deserve it based on pedegree is just daft. The lad is a European Player of the Year for christs sake. Ronaldo, European player of the year, Owen, European player of the year. Yeah, for my money, he is good money for a number seven, even if it is only until we pass it on to the next home grown version.
    While wearing this shirt, Owen has put in some true number 7 performances as well. For me he is value for money (cost us nothing and put in crucial goals when given the chance). When Owen moves on, maybe soon enough, the number seven will find a new home. But Michael Owen has done it proud enough for the short time he has had it. Surely not placed one ounce of disrespect on it as well.

  60. February 23, 2011 at 18:17
    YorYor says:

    A plumber eating cucumbers driving a hummer to watch some numbers?

  61. February 23, 2011 at 18:20
    willierednut says:

    While he plunders, his wife down under.

  62. February 23, 2011 at 18:20
    Zelh says:

    looks like gibson is playing instead of scholes..

  63. February 23, 2011 at 18:22
    willierednut says:

    Zelh – Let the hating begin, then?

  64. February 23, 2011 at 18:23
    Zelh says:

    another 4-3-3

    here’s hoping.

  65. February 23, 2011 at 18:25
    chicharito14 says:

    @zelh give us full line up then.

  66. February 23, 2011 at 18:26
    Zelh says:

    willierednut – gibson is capable of good passing etc but I don’t think he’s a player for a 4-4-2. his defensive skills are really low.
    looks way better when he’s with 2 defensive minded midfielders.

  67. February 23, 2011 at 18:26
    shubhangmanred says:

    Just read that Liverpool more famous than MUFC….How do they conduct such surveys?
    goal.com/en/news/9/england/2011/02/23/2365854/liverpool-more-popular-than-manchester-united-european

  68. February 23, 2011 at 18:27
    Zelh says:

    it’s not confirmed yet, but looks quite likely.

    VDS; O’Shea, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick; Nani, Rooney; Berbatov

  69. February 23, 2011 at 18:28
    smartalex says:

    A cucumber up the number does encumber. Call a dumber plumber for a lumbar puncture

  70. February 23, 2011 at 18:30
    Costas says:

    Ah, Zelh beat me to it. This is the rumored line up. Scholes saved for Wigan and Chelsea then? I wonder why Rafa isn’t starting.

  71. February 23, 2011 at 18:31
    willierednut says:

    No Rafael?

  72. February 23, 2011 at 18:32
    Zelh says:

    Costas – maybe rafa saved for wigan and chelsea too. Sheasy had a really good game against citeh.

  73. February 23, 2011 at 18:32
    geneside says:

    i dont want manu to be the most popular…..

    cause then the people will understand what a less popular club can do….

  74. February 23, 2011 at 18:35
    Faddy is a legend says:

    @Costas

    It may be a height issue.

  75. February 23, 2011 at 18:35
    Costas says:

    @Zelh

    That’s true. And he is on good form. I won’t complain about O’Shea starting, I just feel that we need to settle down to one regular right back instead of rotating. Anyway, I think the Scholes move is the right call with the games coming up. Now, he could play in all 3 of our next games. Gibson can play well in an advanced role, so hopefully that’s where we will see him today.

  76. February 23, 2011 at 18:36
    willierednut says:

    Is that 442? Or, Is Rooney gonna play out left?

  77. February 23, 2011 at 18:37
    Costas says:

    @Faddy is a legend

    That could be it too. Don’t know whether Marseille like to play with high balls or not. Maybe it’s a case of using O’Shea’s experience too.

  78. February 23, 2011 at 18:40
    Faddy is a legend says:

    @Costas

    Yeah i was thinking about corners too, O’Shea is usually really good at dealing with defensive corners however it’s still quite annoying to see Rafael miss out.

  79. February 23, 2011 at 18:41
    Zelh says:

    I think it’s 4-3-3 to 4-5-1.

  80. February 23, 2011 at 18:44
    Costas says:

    Uefa.com has posted the same line up, so I think it’s confirmed then.

    Bench: Kuszczak, Brown, Hernandez, Scholes, Fabio, Rafael, Obertan

    @Faddy is a legend

    Like I said. Looks like the RB berth is still a position we are rotating with depending on each game. Of course, another scenarion could be that Rafa isn’t 100% yet after Saturday.

  81. February 23, 2011 at 18:48
    Zelh says:

    I hope we won’t need Scholes.

  82. February 23, 2011 at 18:50
    Faddy is a legend says:

    @Costas

    Yeah that’d probably have been a factor as well. All in all a good team though, hopefully Rooney has a better game if he’s out left than he usually does in that role. Still a bit worried about the midfield although i do believe that Fletcher is starting to show signs that he is getting back to the player he was last year. A scoring draw would be reasonable but hopefully we can win.

  83. February 23, 2011 at 19:11
    smartalex says:

    Hello Dave Malaysia, welcome!

  84. February 23, 2011 at 19:21
    Dave Malaysia says:

    Hello smartalex,tq.

    It is interesting that Fergie gave Michael Owen the number 7 jersey.

    He certainly scored crucial goals for us.

    I think he will play against Wigan this weekend. Hope Owen scores a hattrick for us.

  85. February 23, 2011 at 19:28
    NotoriousRedDevil says:

    Before anyone else says it. It’s all Gibsons fault, he shit not worthy of the red shirt blah blah blah etc etc. Come on United!

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