MUFC
29-06-2006, 07:48 PM
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is certain his old club will win more Premiership titles than Chelsea in the next decade.
The enigmatic Frenchman, who won four championships during an illustrious four-and-a-half-year career at Old Trafford, believes the current Premiership champions suffer from short-term thinking.
In contrast, he feels United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's far-sightedness will soon begin to pay off.
"I'm sure United will come good," Cantona said.
"They are building a team for the future whereas Chelsea are building a team for today and maybe the next one or two years.
"Year after year they will buy player after player after player and sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't.
"I think you are stronger when you build a team or a generation of players who can play together for 10 years.
"That's why I believe United will win more championships than Chelsea in the next ten years, I'm sure of that."
Despite his reservations with Chelsea's transfer policy, Cantona believes Blues boss Jose Mourinho compares favourably with Ferguson, the man who brought him to Old Trafford in 1992.
"They are both winners and psychologically very strong," Cantona told United magazine.
"That is very important in terms of the influence they have on their players and the way in which they deal with the press and the provocation from the press.
"They are both very good at knowing what to say, when to say it and why they need to say it.
"That can be very important, perhaps even as important as the way their teams play because when they say things the media attention is on them and not the players, so the players can play without pressure."
The enigmatic Frenchman, who won four championships during an illustrious four-and-a-half-year career at Old Trafford, believes the current Premiership champions suffer from short-term thinking.
In contrast, he feels United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's far-sightedness will soon begin to pay off.
"I'm sure United will come good," Cantona said.
"They are building a team for the future whereas Chelsea are building a team for today and maybe the next one or two years.
"Year after year they will buy player after player after player and sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't.
"I think you are stronger when you build a team or a generation of players who can play together for 10 years.
"That's why I believe United will win more championships than Chelsea in the next ten years, I'm sure of that."
Despite his reservations with Chelsea's transfer policy, Cantona believes Blues boss Jose Mourinho compares favourably with Ferguson, the man who brought him to Old Trafford in 1992.
"They are both winners and psychologically very strong," Cantona told United magazine.
"That is very important in terms of the influence they have on their players and the way in which they deal with the press and the provocation from the press.
"They are both very good at knowing what to say, when to say it and why they need to say it.
"That can be very important, perhaps even as important as the way their teams play because when they say things the media attention is on them and not the players, so the players can play without pressure."