The importance of Eric Cantona in helping Manchester United establish a long domination of English football will be debated for many years to come, but there is no doubt that he has made a great United side into a great one.
The impact of the flamboyant Frenchman was immediate when the Red Devils won the first Premier League title less than six months after his arrival in November 1992.
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Cantona brought a certain je ne sais quoi to Manchester United
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And United loyalists believe Fernandes has what it takes to emulate Cantona
He won three more league titles and two FA Cups in his last four years at the club, but his legacy has stood the test of time.
Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Gary Neville have revealed how Cantona’s strong work ethic impacted their careers and therefore the culture of Manchester United Football Club, which boasts 20 league titles (13 at the time of the Premier League), twelve FA Cups, five League Cups. and were three times European champions.
Things have calmed down a bit at Old Trafford in recent years – they last won a trophy in 2017 – but many believe Bruno Fernandes – signed exactly a year ago – is the Cantona-like figure who can bring back Man United at the top.
Portugal international Fernandes wholeheartedly rejects comparisons, which is not surprising given his limited time at the club and, to date, has no trophies to show for his efforts.
Are Fernandes’ comparisons with Cantona fair?
But maybe the 26-year-old is too hard on himself. The attacking midfielder boasts brilliant stats having scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists in 52 appearances for the Red Devils.
He’s a player who can do a bit of anything and his WhoScored rating shows he’s good at free kicks, long shots and set pieces, as Liverpool found out in the FA Cup over the weekend. latest. He’s considered very strong when it comes to balls, key passes, finishing and even his defensive contribution.
However, it was the impact on his teammates and the players around him that really stood out and perhaps that is why the Cantona comparisons persist.
A good end to last season saw Man United finish third in the league, while reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League and the FA Cup. Without a Champions League group stage exit they are doing well this season too as they find themselves in the title race.
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Fernandes and United are second in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Manchester City
But above all, Man United are an entertaining side again as they were in the glory days. As Athletic’s Richard Amofa tells talkSPORT.com, Man United were struggling to get the “slow and tasteless” Jose Mourinho-era football out of their system before Fernandes arrived.
“We’ve had flashes of individual brilliance, but what Bruno has done is bring them on a more cohesive basis,” Amofa said. “It improved the game for everyone else like Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and even Anthony Martial.
“Our forward line has benefited the most. While we were keeping the ball and not conceding as much, we were not creating as many chances [before Fernandes signed].
“What you get with Bruno is someone direct and forward. As soon as he takes the ball, his first thought is “how can I create? How can I make something happen?
“Sometimes he’s frustrated when he gives the ball, but that’s what his type of players do. High risk, high reward.
“If you look at the way United want to play, quick and quick – Bruno is fantastic at that. This is how successful Manchester United teams have played over the years.
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Fernandes has eleven goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season and he has helped players like Rashford to be among the goals
Cantona had a knack for making the players around him play better, but United Stand’s Mark Goldbridge doesn’t just see Cantona in Fernandes’ game.
“He’s related to Cantona but I see a Roy Keane in him, a Gary Neville, a David Beckham, a Paul Scholes and a Cristiano Ronaldo in him,” Goldbridge told talkSPORT.com.
Fernandes certainly sparked memories of a brilliant counter-attacking goal Ronaldo scored in a Champions League draw at Arsenal when he stole home against Brighton last season.
But the end of the campaign saw him produce a behavior you would tend to associate with Keane as Fernandes faced Victor Lindelof in their Europa League loss to Sevilla.
To make an omelet you have to break a few eggs and Fernandes who holds his teammates accountable made them stronger
“My favorite attribute is his leadership, his tenacity, his desire to win,” adds Goldbridge.
“As a player Fernandes has a multitude of talents, he can score tap-ins, headers, free kicks. He can create with 40-yard passes, 5-yard passes.
“What ties it all together is this elite mentality that not all players have to be the best at who they are and the team around them.
And that is perhaps the key to why Fernandes loved himself so much by United loyalists to the point that he is already leaning towards legendary status by those who don’t already see him that way.
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The way Fernandes conducts himself reminds Man United fans of the glory days
He embodies all of the footballing qualities and values of Cantona and other legends that have made and maintained United’s place as the best team in the country over the next two decades.
But unlike his successful predecessors, Fernandes’ story at Man United is not yet over.
He’s already won four Player of the Month awards in the Premier League, but Goldbridge believes Fernandes can aim much higher.
“If Manchester United were to sell him over the next couple of summers, I would be amazed if there wasn’t a line of clubs in the world for him,” Goldbridge said.
“I think he’s at a level where a Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus would take him and he would start for them.
“I think he could be a Ballon d’Or winner. He will be one of the best players over the next five or six years.
Bruno Fernandes statistics since joining Man United
Games: 58
Buts: 26
Aide: 17
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