Regardless of what I think of his time at United, it's worth me telling this little story....
The Cantona brothers own a media company in France. They decided to do a series on the great derbies around the world (one from each major sporting country). They agreed with Canal Plus and ITV1 to produce a pilot and, inevitably, because of Cantona's history United had to play a part. The TV companies wanted them to make a programme about Utd-Liverpool (there's other threads on here about whether that's a derby or not, but according to those TV execs it is).
Anyway, Cantona was insistent that the derby had to be Manchester City-Utd because that's a true derby. He knew what he was talking about and spoke positively about what Manchester, City and of course Utd meant and the significance thrughout history of the fixture. He spent much of last season filming it. I was interviewed to put the derby into context.
They also followed a few fans (both clubs) and they followed a female City fan whose husband is a Red. Cantona turned up in her house at one point.
Anyway, the film was made and broadcast in France at the end of May this year. Obviously, it's in French with French subtitles when someone speaks in English. I am only on for about 20 secs but they got a French football historian to talk in French about St. Marks, City's history and so on.
It's hard to tell exactly what the programme says but from what I can make out it is very fair on City and well-balanced. It does feature more Utd officials - Fergie & Giggs - but this may have been support from the clubs themselves. Nedum was interviewed for City.
Sadly, ITV have not shown the programme. I have no idea why (maybe it will be on pre-derby). Perhaps they'd have shown it if it had been Liverpool-Utd.
So, despite his playing career for Utd, my view is that Cantona understood what Manchester & City is all about and, from what I was told by the production crew, he seemed to genuinely respect City, City fans and our history. He certainly did more to ensure our history was considered fairly than most other football 'public' figures.
-- Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:13 pm --
Bellingham said:
Appologies for sort of going off at a tangent here (but I can't start a thread yet)...
...Cantona is apparently the 'Manc Hero' of the bloke who runs the Pride of Manchester website.
Is anyone aware of this site? There is such a clear rag biase that's it total fails to give a fair view of the place its trying to promote.
Theres a line on the 'about us' page about being so proud of our city and its football team (singular).
I've no connection to this web site and have no desire to raise its profile but it has made my really quite angry.
Both "The Pride Of Manchester" & "Manchester Confidential" are run by United fans.
