14 Dec 2018 20:46:21
An interesting quote from Cantona on the Player's Tribune, anathema to Jose:
"All the time, I get asked the same questions about my career.
"What was it like playing for those United teams? Why did you do so well? "
People want some kind of complex answer. They want some kind of secret, I think. But the answer is very simple. Sir Alex Ferguson was the master of one thing: Whenever we took the pitch for a match, after hours and hours of work, we were allowed to be free. We felt total freedom to move where we wanted, to play how we wanted.
I could tolerate football no other way.
What is football if it is not about freedom?
15 Dec 2018 02:01:43
Nice quote. Ferguson was not quite like that in his latter years but the sentiment rings true.
{Ed001's Note - he was not like that with the other players at any point in his career. That was his genius, he knew what was needed to get the best out of most of his players. He didn't always get it right, but more often than most. He knew Cantona needed total freedom, so Cantona got total freedom. But everyone else in that team was treated differently, off the pitch as well as on it.}
15 Dec 2018 10:21:05
Well we've all heard the stories with giggs and lee Sharpe an that's just a few examples. I'm sure Eds got a few more. Hint hint.
15 Dec 2018 18:58:16
It is more about trust than freedom. Football is about movement of the ball and the players within a team dynamic. Players have roles to fill, their freedom is limited by the requirements of role. The key is to enable players to feel free to express their talents positively within the structural framework necessary to compete effectively. My guess is John O'Shea was not encouraged to dribble out of defence.