‘Ole is spiritual son of Sir Alex’

Cantona urges United to stick with Solskjaer

ERIC CANTONA claims Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be given the Manchester United job permanently because he is “the spiritual son of Alex Ferguson”.

The legendary United striker feels Solskjaer has restored United’s identity after the lost years since Ferguson retired and says he understands the club’s soul.

“He has the soul of the club and you feel that he has been inspired by Alex Ferguson,” said Cantona.

“It’s like Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola in Barcelona – Ole Gunnar is the spiritual son of Alex Ferguson.

“Not all players can become managers but some can and it is important that at a club such as Manchester United you have somebody who has the soul of the club, who understands the club from inside.

“I think he should be given the job permanently. I would love to see that.

“I don’t know the agreement he has but for me as a fan – because now I am a United fan – it’s a great feeling to feel the soul of the club, finally. We lost that since Ferguson retired.”

Cantona feels Solskjaer’s knowledge of United gives him the edge over his main rival for the job when a permanent appointment is made in the summer, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. “For me it’s important that the manager understands the club, who has the soul of the club,” added the Frenchman.

“It’s why I said before about Guardiola in Barcelona. He was a player when Cruyff was the manager. He then became the manager of Barcelona with the soul of the club, and the soul of Johan Cruyff.

“You can have someone who comes from elsewhere, but they need to understand the club – to have the soul of the club.”

Cantona captained Solskjaer in his final season at Old Trafford and says he is not surprised by his success. “Finally the club made the right decision, a decision they should have made a long time ago,” he said.

“It has been hard, but all big clubs sometimes have bad times. They will be back but the worst thing was that the identity of the club was missing. Because you can lose, so long as you do it with the right identity and philosophy.”

Cantona says it pains him to see United’s biggest rivals – Liverpool and Manchester City – at the top of the table and says he hopes neither side win the league title.

“It hurts a lot,” he said. “If United had started the season 10 games ago, they would be top. I prefer nobody to win.

It’s like asking me if I’d prefer to have my teeth made of wood or my legs of sponge.”

Solskjaer has offered Ferguson the chance to deliver a team talk before tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool. “He would be welcome to have his talk to the players if the gaffer wanted to because we know how much it meant to him to overtake Liverpool,” said Solskjaer.

But while Fergie loved to play mind games before matches, Solskjaer sees little point. “No,” he said. “I don’t think Jurgen Klopp will read what I say and I’m not going to read what he says.”