ERIC CANTONA INTERVIEW: United are 'kings of the city' and can win title next year

Cantona, 48, became an Old Trafford legend after scoring 89 goals in 192 appearances for the club and in his most candid interview has spoken freely about what he sees as the problem with English football, his decision not to support FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his new acting career, which sees him play the part of The Stallion in new film You and the Night.

Q: What are you doing these days? Is it mainly the acting now? Are you still involved in football in any way?

A: No. I retired a long time ago. I had a dream when I was a kid. It was to become a great footballer and play with the best players and best clubs and I realised my dream. When it was finished, I lost passion for the game – for my dream. I realised my dream and I wanted to do something else. I've been lucky to be passionate about many things, thanks to my parents and other people. And now I can do something else and that's a very exciting life.

Q: You don't miss football?

A: No, I don't miss football. When I retired, there were two years of feelings. It's very difficult because the job is so big and it's very exciting. It's like a drug, so I didn't want to watch a game on TV or anything.

But I've been lucky because I think, for sportsmen, it's very difficult when they retire. Because, as I said before, it's like a drug. So, you can miss it. You miss it psychologically, you miss it physically. And to be passionate about something else and to be prepared to do something else because you're passionate about it, I think can help a lot. And it helped me a lot.

Q: And what is your passion in acting? What do you enjoy about acting? What does that give you?

A: It's not only about acting. It's the world of arts and creating something, to observe the world how it is and, from that, try to create my own work through my imagination. It's what I like. So it's acting and it's cinema or theatre and also producing things and liking things.

For me, it's very important to do many things and to be free. When you only act, it's like you wait for something and people know that because we depend on the desire of the other ones. But if everybody knows that you can do many things, they know that you depend on nobody, only on yourself and it makes you more exciting.

Q: You were part of a Manchester United team which created a dynasty. Why do you think Manchester City have been unable to produce the same kind of dominance that United had?

A: English football is so exciting because you have so many clubs that can win the league. And it's not so easy. But City have won the league twice, so they have been successful, also.

But they cannot win every year because the Premier League is so strong, it has so many clubs – so many rich clubs also – and so many clubs who work on young players. And some of them work on the young players and can buy the best players in the world, like United.

I prefer this kind of club, who are rich enough to buy the best players they want, and also works on young players. The academy of the club is very important because they work on that for many years and I think you have the example of Barcelona, also.

They can buy the best players but, when you have a great academy, when you have a great generation, nobody can beat them, because they play together since they are 14 years old. And Barcelona understood that. I think it was Johan Cruyff who put that [in].

When he was a player and when he came as a manager, he brings that from Holland and from Ajax. And, since, Barcelona are on top, one of the best clubs in the world – as United have been and the last Dutch teams.

Q: Do you think that's a problem for Man City, that they don't have the youth coming through in the same way that United have?

A: It takes time, I think, for young players. Maybe they try to do something but it takes time. Maybe they work hard on young players, I don't know. We will see. But it hasn't come along.

You can build a team with a lot of money and, the next day, you can win the league. But, with the young players, you need 10 years. You have to wait until the young players are ready to play for the first team. So maybe they will, maybe Chelsea will also. But I think it's very important.

Q: Your image in the world is what happened in '95, the kung-fu kick on the Crystal Palace fan.

A: Kung-fu. It was great, too.

Q: So why after a lot of years is your postcard still that bad thing and not the good things you do today?

A: It maybe [depends on] your point of view. I think the good thing from that is, through me, everybody can realise, in your life, you can do good things and bad things.

I've done things I'm proud about and I've done some bad things that I don't regret because it's just my life. And if you're happy, it's good. If you're not happy, I don't care. Nobody will teach me how to behave myself.

Q: Spain won two European Cups and one World Cup but they didn't do very well in the last World Cup...

A: No, Catalunya won – because they won with 10 players from Barcelona. My grandparents are from Catalunya, from Barcelona. They arrived in France in '39. There was a civil war. So I am very proud of Barcelona and all that they have done.

Yohan Cruyff was a great player and he helped me to love football and the way he played football and the way Holland played football and the way Ajax played football. I was eight years old and I watched they World Cup final in '74. I was in Barcelona. Spain won many since – but thanks to the work of Barcelona.

Q: Has the time run out for them or can they still be major challengers again?

A: I think so, because, as long Barcelona work on young players and other clubs work on young players, you will win things. It's why it's shame, I think, in countries, for instance, like England, because the best [clubs] pay for foreigners and, except Manchester United, don't work enough on young players. So the national team is not too good.

Q: Are you pleased to see Manchester United back in the Champions League placings, how well do you think they are doing this year, and do you think they can challenge next year for the Premier League again?

A: Yeah, I think so. But United's a great club, so sometimes you have a season when you have to lose games and you finish fourth, fifth. But it's a great club. It will be at the top of the table. And they came back and next year they can win the league.

With a manager from Holland, it seems to be important for Manchester United because it's the same kind of philosophy for the game: Holland and Manchester United.

Q: How do you see United's form since they beat City on Sunday?

A: The derby's a special game, so it's great to win the derby. I was proud and very glad. It's good because now they are the kings of the city. The two clubs are two of the best clubs in England, so it's very important to win this game.

Q: Germany won the World Cup. Is Germany the most dominant football nation in the world?

A: Yeah, I think so. But more many years. Germany work on young players, too. They've always been a great country for working on young players. The national team is so strong. But this one was a special one for me because, for the first time, Germany won the World Cup with players coming from immigration, with Turkish origin.

So it was a change. Before, Germany won many things and has always been a great country. But this one was special for me because I like when a country wins with players coming from immigration.

Q: But the German Bundesliga is kind of boring because Bayern Munich's very dominant...

A: But, you see, in Spain it's the same. One year, it's Barcelona, one year, it's Real Madrid. It's always the same, every country. In Italy, with Juventus, and, before, it was the case for Milan.

I think it's very exciting, the league, in Germany. They play football, they play attacking football, score a lot of goals. The fans are very passionate about the game. For me, the first one is England, is the Premier League, and then the German league for excitement. And, after that, you have Barcelona.

Q: What difficulties did you face breaking into acting and did you ever think, 'What am I doing this for'?

A: I had to dream. First, I had to dream to become a footballer and try to create something and to be involved in the world of imagination, my imagination coming as an actor and the imagination of the other ones. But I prefer to stop my football. Of course, you have to work hard.

You always have to work very hard to be confident enough to enjoy it. In sport, I had to work very hard, I had to work very hard, to come in, play the game, and to be confident enough to enjoy the game.

And, as an actor, it's exactly the same. So, for me, it's not so different. We are in front of an audience, we are in front of everything. It's a public job so we have to share it with the people.

And it's teamwork, also. We have to work with other actors and we are directed by a director – in football, by a coach. For me, it's very similar. It's just another game. So, I'm not bored.

Q: Your last film was classified by some as a soft porn film. Are those classifications correct and, if so, why did you choose to act in that sort of film?

A: Porn? No, it's not porn. It's a piece of art. It's just a piece of art. But you can see it like this. It's beautiful. You should see it. Unfortunately, porn is not so aesthetic and so beautiful.

But love is sex also, you know? This kind of story for the ones who have seen it - I'm sure nobody has seen it - it's too beautiful. This kind of story, when you choose to do it, you have to know the director. If it's somebody special, if it's a real artist, you can do it. You can give, and be confident enough.

Q: You have been reported saying you would consider managing United one day – is that on your agenda?

A: Managing Manchester United? No, I think today they've found the right one [Louis van Gaal]. He's a good one.

Q: Who is the best footballer in the world?

A: For me, today, the best player in the world, the most exciting player in the world, is [Javier] Pastore from Paris St Germain. Why? Because I watched two games just to see Pastore playing, giving passes.

He has got something special. Because football is interactive. It's why footballer is so popular, I think. And Pastore can do things that the other ones don't know.

It's interactive but he does things that surprise you every time. Not only in scoring goals, spectacular goals - everything. Just passing. Passing. He's a very creative player. He's the most creative player, I think, in the world today. It's why I think he's the best player in the world, because I love this kind of player.

Q: What do you think about the next FIFA election? Can Luis Figo can be a good president?

A: I always supported the people coming from football. As far as I know, I don't think [Sepp] Blatter played football. So I will support Figo.

Cantona was talking ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai.