Eric Cantona raises Man Utd concern as he advises ex-club to be 'smart like Liverpool'

Man Utd legend Eric Cantona has encouraged his former club to be 'smart like Liverpool' as they can no longer attract the best players in the world.

Cantona also believe Man Utd should copy Liverpool's methods and develop players like they did with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

As their deal to sign Wout Weghorst draws closer, the club legend believes United's transfer policy needs to change.

“In the days of Alex Ferguson, if you wanted a player, the best in the world, he would come to Manchester United because they were winning in England and in Europe,” said Cantona, who admitted that he was unaware of Weghorst or his move. at United, PA News told PA News.

"Manchester United were the biggest club in the world and they had the money to buy any type of player.

"Now it's different, because the best players want to play in a team to win things and United are not in a position to be able to pick the best because the best won't come to United.

"So you have to be smart. Smart like Liverpool. They took Mane and Salah, not the best players in the world, but with a great team and a great atmosphere, together they won things.

"And then Mane and Salah became the best players in the world. He's a great example for United."

Cantona, who joined United in 1992, however believes Ten Hag has the right approach in introducing a stricter regime at the club.

In-form Marcus Rashford fell victim to the new policy when he was sent off to play against Wolves a fortnight ago because he overslept and missed a squad meeting, but he came off the bench to score the winner.

"You have to have a bit of discipline to win things. But it's not just about that, it's about so many things," the 56-year-old added, speaking to the National Football Museum in Manchester where an exhibition by local artist Michael Browne, commissioned by Cantona and titled 'From Moss Side to Marseille', opens to the public on Saturday.

"It's about attitude, it's about behavior. When you play for a club like Manchester United, you have to have the club in your blood.

"You have to give your life to this club, to the fans. Then if you win, OK but if you don't win at least you gave your all.

"In England it's hard to win because there are so many clubs that can win. So if you don't win you have to at least give it your all in every game, or at least try to give it your all in every game. match.

"And to give your all in every match, you need a minimum of discipline, discipline is the basis of everything.

"But it's also the pleasure of playing football.

"I always say that not only in football, but in everything you have to do to find confidence and when you are confident enough you can enjoy it.

"But to enjoy it you have to have that confidence and to have that confidence you have to work hard, work hard, work hard. Be 100% physically, 100% technically, 100% tactically.

"It's not just about the first team, it's about the atmosphere in the club, the atmosphere between people, the respect you have for your teammates, the respect you have for women who work at the entrance of the game or the bar.

“If you respect yourself, you can respect others. If you don't respect others, it's because you don't respect yourself.

"And if you don't respect yourself, United is not the club for you."

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