Manchester United legend Eric Cantona believes that José Mourinho is not the right man to manage the Reds, despite his admiration for the Portuguese manager.
The former Chelsea manager is expected to take over the managerial hotseat at Old Trafford in the next couple of days after Louis van Gaal was sacked by the club on Monday evening.
However, United’s favourite Frenchman has chimed in with his opinion. Speaking to The Guardian, Cantona said that while he liked Mourinho’s personality, he believed that the type of football he preaches does not suit the club’s philosophy:
I love José Mourinho, but in terms of the type of football he plays I don’t think he is Manchester United.
I love his personality, I love the passion he has for the game, his humour. He is very intelligent, he demands 100% 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.
Instead, the 50-year-old said that Mourinho’s ultimate nemesis, Pep Guardiola (who will be taking charge at Manchester City next season), would have been the perfect man to take over at Old Trafford:
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, who turned his hand to acting after retiring at the early age of 30, also offered a simple explanation as to why Van Gaal’s reign had ended early:
I think they have lost something. You can feel it. But it’s difficult to come after someone who has been at the club 25 years. Even if you are a great manager, the fans still feel the philosophy of Ferguson.
