Man Utd: Eric Cantona says Pep Guardiola would be more 'logical' as manager

Last updated on 24 November 2017.From the section Man Utd345

Manchester United great Eric Cantona says he admires Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho - but would prefer Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to manage his former club.

Cantona, who spent five years at United between 1992 and 1997, described Portuguese Mourinho as "a winner who will continue to win".

But the Frenchman also told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "He is playing in this defensive way, which is not the identity of Manchester United.

"Both Guardiola and Mourinho are great, but I prefer attacking football, when it's more creative. It's the way I tried to play all my career."

Speaking later on BBC Radio 5 live, Cantona added: "I cannot understand why United would take a manager who plays in a defensive way. I love Mourinho, but I prefer to watch Barcelona play.

"I prefer the way Guardiola plays, and I would prefer him as manager of Manchester United, it's more logical. I don't watch Man City because it's Man City but I would love to watch the team managed by Guardiola."

United are second in the Premier League, trailing Guardiola's City side by eight points.

City have won 17 consecutive matches, scoring 54 goals during an unbeaten run that stretches 19 games in all competitions since August.

By comparison, United have scored 11 goals fewer, while losing four of their 20 matches since the start of the season.

Mourinho was later on Friday asked about his team's style during a news conference previewing Saturday's home match with Brighton.

He said: "More ambition than we do at home I think is quite difficult. I don't know who is more ambitious than us.

"We played against Newcastle with [Paul] Pogba, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial, [Juan] Mata, [Romelu] Lukaku.

"The full-backs are not full-backs - [Antonio] Valencia and Ashley Young. Everybody knows that they are wingers, not full-backs. So I don't know what you want."

Pep Guardiola v Jose Mourinho: The best of enemies

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Comment posted by U14972252, at 10:37 24 Nov 2017
Manchester City have been fantastic to watch this season especially going forward, also they have tightened up the back too.
I really thought Man U would kick on this season but for the big games Jose reverts back to parking the bus, when they came to Anfield this season it was the worst performance i'd ever seen from a United side at our place.
For entertainment City win hands down!
Comment posted by - - - And Out Come The Wolves, at 09:59 24 Nov 2017
give jose another £500M and he can buy the city team....but he will still park the bus with them
Comment posted by User0880396183, at 11:11 24 Nov 2017
I have been a Utd supporter since 1979 and honestly can say that this is not how I want to see them play. Football should not be a game of percentages and minimising damage but a game of attack and counter attack,tbh there's nothing beautiful about how Mourinho has us playing. Man City are playing exciting entertaining football, why can't we?
Comment posted by D1713191168340, at 10:33 24 Nov 2017
You have to respect Eric for having a bit more principle than some of their supporters who defend Mourinho week after week despite his style of play. It's one thing Stoke, West Brom playing long ball and defensive football, but Utd have spent hundreds of millions on record signings
Comment posted by Asylum Seeker, at 10:07 24 Nov 2017
SHOCKER...Maureen's teams play boring football!! Do bears poo in the woods?
Comment posted by itsafunnyoldgame, at 10:24 24 Nov 2017
Both managers will be judged on they have won or not won by the end of the season.I think City have a more creative midfield and better forwards,which will make the difference,especially in the Champions League.I stick to my view that Lukaku is nowhere near the level of top strikers,and have seen nothing so far to change my opinion.
Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 10:22 24 Nov 2017
The main problem is - Mourinho shuts up shop away from home against anyone and then at home against 'bigger' teams.

They play great football at home most of the time, but away from home it's just boring to watch.

You've got an incredible team - just let the shackles off a little bit, Jose!
Comment posted by T28ColdBlowLion, at 14:09 24 Nov 2017
Guardiola = (from a neutrals perspectve) nice, pleasant, humble, brilliant coach & a friend to football and the beautiful game. Easy to like, hard to dislike.

Mourinho = (from a neutrals perspective) nasty, miserable, angry, arrogant, pretentious, money-buys-success coach & seems to epitomise everything thats wrong with modern football. Enemy to the beautiful game. Easy to despise hard to like.
Comment posted by ljm1992, at 10:05 24 Nov 2017
Mourinho play expansive football.... Next joke please.

Fraud of a manager.
Comment posted by MGM, at 10:20 24 Nov 2017
Mourinho has steadied the ship, but with the talent available at Utd they should be beating teams far more regular.
Defensive, safety 1st tactics is not Utd.
If they won every game 1-0 then ok, but 1-0 easily turns into 0-0 or 0-1. Hence Utd are losing touch with City when they should be on their tails.
Already heard him touting for the PSG job.
Comment posted by The Icon, at 10:25 24 Nov 2017
Honest comments from Cantona so respect. More than I can say for the odious Alan Sugar whose comments on the Manchester Clubs ruining football show him to be an out of touch past his sell by date individual. Two faced in the extreme, I hope the apprentices give him the worst possible time. Certainly the most hopeless, worst chairman, Spurs have ever had, hope the Arsenal defeat hurts him deeply
Comment posted by D1679684273668, at 10:14 24 Nov 2017
For the money he's spent over the last decade, just he plays such DULL football.
Comment posted by guzzie, at 15:42 24 Nov 2017
Arguing about football teams is rediculas - MUFC supporters hate MCFC but if Pep moved to Old Trafford and brought 6 or 7 players with him they would soon be claiming them as their own - and visa versa.
MUFC supporters used to hate Jose when he was at Chelsea - now he’s their hero.
It’s all shallow tribalism.
Comment posted by HOUGHTON, at 12:52 24 Nov 2017
Mourinho is just a rich mans Allardyce
Comment posted by Tom, at 12:28 24 Nov 2017
Some really fickle Man United fans on here? Do you not remember Moyes and Van Gaal?

I am a season ticket holder and have watched us score many goals already this season. We may not play with the same flair as City but its a drastic improvement and a step in the right direction from the lats two managers.

The days of Fergie have gone and some of these spoilt fans need to be realistic.
Comment posted by Inastate, at 15:03 24 Nov 2017
Pep v mourinho is like christ v anti christ.

Watching pep's teams play anyone can fall in love with football. Watching Mourinho's lads is enough to put you off watching football even if you love the sport, correction, especially if you love the sport.
Comment posted by D1679485579786, at 10:32 24 Nov 2017
That Sadam Hussain has let himself go......
Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 10:31 24 Nov 2017
Cantona: "He is playing in this defensive way, which is not the identity of Manchester United."

Yes, Eric, but it is the identity of Mourinho. Granted it may not be the most exciting identity, but I'm fairly sure the Man Utd board knew what they were getting when they hired him (as did all the fans).
Comment posted by RoyaltyinTheChampionship, at 10:29 24 Nov 2017
"Manchester United, it's like Barcelona"

Are you kidding me????
Comment posted by Captain Armorica, at 11:04 24 Nov 2017
When the crows follow the trawler it is because they think the corpse of Maureen is going to be thrown into the sea