Eric Cantona believes Manchester United are getting the wrong manager in Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as successor to Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in the next two days, whereupon he will resume his rivalry with Pep Guardiola, who takes over at rivals City in the summer after moving from Bayern Munich.
But Cantona, so synonymous with United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson, thinks Guardiola’s attacking brand of football is more suited to the United tradition.
Speaking of the former Chelsea boss, he told The Guardian: “I love his personality, I love the passion he has for the game, his humour. He is very intelligent, he demands 100 per cent of his players. And of course he wins things.
“But I don’t think it’s the type of football that the fans of Manchester United will love, even if they win. He can win with Manchester United. But do they expect that type of football, even if they win? I don’t think so.
“Guardiola was the one to take. He is the spiritual son of Johan Cruyff. I would have loved to have seen Guardiola in Manchester [United]. He is the only one to change Manchester. He is in Manchester, but at the wrong one.”
Cantona even said he would be happy to return to the club as manager one day, adding: “I do many things and I’m very happy. But if they asked me to become the manager of Manchester United, I would.
“Because Guardiola is in Manchester City and they want someone to win things with wonderful football? It’s me. – Skysports.
