DIEU

‘I did not know England, it is a country which the French
do not like too much. But I have discovered a country of
extremes, it has a side there that is very conservative:
many styles and ideas, in fashion, in music, even the
cinema, start from over there. And then, I always have
been a fan of bowie and the clash.

‘With English passion, they immerse themselves totally.
For the goalscorer, it is extraordinary. The genuine
thrill, in England, is not the footballer, it is the
club: I left and the supporters continue to venerate
Manchester United. Because this club has a tradition: it
is the only one where players like George Best, Bryan
Robson or me could have expressed ourselves.

‘Instead of cutting down the personalities, United
encourages them: all that counts in England, is what one
gives on the ground. One can say what one wants, to get
dressed and live as one wants. I like the English fans,
because they remain behind their team whatever the
result. In which country other than England, in which
stage other than Old Trafford would you see Ronaldo,
after scoring a hat-trick, after just eliminating
Manchester United from the Quarter Finals of the
Champions League, leave the ground with a standing
ovation?

‘When a goal is scored, all the barriers, inhibitions
fall: one can be moved to tears. Today, though it is
definitely calculated more: the players write, before the
match, messages for their wife or their baby on their tee-
shirt, and if they score exhibit this in front of the
cameras. But me, I was so much in the moment, the
emotion, which I showed after having scored. It is a
moment of trance.

‘The Marseillaise, it is insane: the fatherland, the
patriotic anthem, it’s not me, I'm not proud to be
French. By contrast, when we played the Cup final with
Manchester (United), I cried when I heard a national
anthem. It was not the French anthem but God Save the
Queen. Sung by a whole crowd, it's heartbreaking.

‘I never wanted to destroy. I do not understand the
vocations of defender, of defensive medium. These people
(talking about Didier Deshamps) – we need them, but what
pleasure can they find in play? How can one have fun
systematically destroying the play of its adversary?’

Asked about the ‘Seagulls and trawlers’ press conference,
Eric said:

‘Yes, it was what crossed my mind at this time. It is not
a sentence of genius, but what is good is that these
words found a resonance different to one than to the
others. I do not impose anything, I propose. Each one
hears there what he wants.’

Asked if he ever used drugs:

‘No way, I refuse that. That would be a state of grace
followed by a guilt feeling. On the other hand, when you
live this state of fright with nature, not only do you
not have this guilt feeling, but you have on the contrary
an enormous feeling of satisfaction. Because it is very
simple, pure.’

Talking about why he left United he said:

‘In life, with the personality that I have, I could never
have agreed to be a civil servant. Impossible! I would
have been robber, anything. But never a civil servant. I
left Manchester because I had lost my passion for the
game, because I did not master the merchandising side.
Because I did not want to become a product. And I need to
control a minimum. I always have functioned like that. If
I stop football, it is because I do not see myself
accepting certain things. At one stage, what mattered was
the Cantona product, the profit. And then I had to go. I
would never have agreed to become a civil servant of
football. No. Either there is a flame which captures me,
or there is nothing. My career as a footballer, it was
the result of more than ten years of conflicts: with
continuously having to prove things, to make them
accepted by the others. In the long-term, it is abrasive.
You do not support yourself any more. One year remained
of my contract, I had time. But I preferred to leave.’

Talking about the Beckham deal he said:

‘I hope that the supporters of Manchester will rebel
against this football business. They are rather powerful,
over there, in Manchester. They already prevented the
press baron Rupert Murdoch from taking over their club. I
hope that they will know to react...’

When he was told of IMUSA’S Statement saying that had it
been Cantona rather than Beckham sold in this manner then
there would have been a revolution he said:

‘Ah... (he smiles, obviously very moved) That is what
they said? Without comment from me...’

Eric spoke about a possible return to football, and how
he will use what he’s learnt from Fergie if he does:

‘Yes!! ... he has managed to find a balance between what
it was necessary to give and what it was necessary to
receive, without never passing by any conflict. But
another thing is... If one day I got involved with a
football team, it will be a team like Manchester. I have
a certain idea on the game and I will only become a coach
if I can bring my vision, if I feel that the game can
evolve. I do not want to take a system of existing play.
Automatically, that means it will be revolutionary – even
though I can mess up big time. To do it I need great
players and great players are in a club like Manchester.
Cruyff, what he did with Barca as a trainer, he did with
Ajax in the 70’s as a player. With small players, it
would have failed and he would have been treated as
crazy, as a dreamer.'