The New Cantona? …
Talk is growing of Henrik Larsson becoming the new ‘Cantona’ and inspiring United to title glory in this year of the champion’s ‘meltdown.’
Sir Alex kick-started the comparison in the aftermath of United’s FA Cup victory against Aston Villa. “Henrik will score important goals for us,” the manager said. “He’s been doing that throughout his career. I always say that with Eric Cantona, that when he scored, it always seemed to be a winner or a really important goal.”
The Swedish striker’s intelligent contribution to United’s attacking movement and the relative ease of his introduction to English football augurs well for his two month stay.
Larsson seems to be enjoying his work too and has been welcomed by one and all at Old Trafford. “Henrik Larsson is the best player we have had in Scandinavia since Michael Laudrup,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in a recent interview. “He continues to get better.” Patrice Evra added: “”I am very happy to play alongside someone like him at United. Henrik is a big player, and you can see he has lots of qualities.”
Puncturing all the hype, is former England coach Tord Grip, who sees nothing in Larsson to remind him of Cantona. He said: “Cantona and Larsson both score important goals and you could argue Cantona was also a team player. But that is where the similarities end. Larsson is timid, he has no ego at all and he doesn’t shout at anyone on the pitch or off it. He is a very quiet man.
“He was like that in 1994 when I was part of Sweden’s coaching team and we won the bronze medal at the World Cup. He was never full of himself. If Henrik has the opportunity to play the rest of the English season with United I think he should take it.”
It must be hoped that Larsson helps United towards the title glory but his impact would have to be extraordinary over the next eleven games however, to match Eric Cantona’s years and achievements at Old Trafford.
But the manager is surely onto something when he summons the rich memories of Cantona, more so for the player’s contribution to the United of Leeds than of Manchester.
Fans will remember how Leeds beat United to the title in 1992, thanks in part, to Cantona’s flair, inspiration and goals. United choked to allow Leeds to become the last winners of the old Division One, the Frenchman scoring three goals in 15 games. Cantona appeared as a substitute in nine of these matches but nevertheless became an Elland Road folk hero after one memorable strike against Chelsea.
“This day came at Elland Road on 11 April 1992,” Cantona recalled. “We were playing against Chelsea. It is difficult to describe the out of the ordinary goal that I scored on that day. In three touches I deceived the defenders who were coming to tackle me, without the ball touching the ground and then finally placed the ball in the far corner of the net. About ten minutes remained and throughout the whole of that time the fans stood up in the stands, singing and chanting. It was a very moving and extraordinary experience.”
If Larsson can encourage better performances from his team mates, score match-winning goals and spark United into snatching the title from Chelsea, he will be remembered as much as he is rewarded. But will his name be sung ten years from now with the passion reserved for ‘King’ Eric? Not a chance! AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2007
