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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Charlotte Duncker & Gareth Bicknell

Eric Cantona admits Man Utd fears over his standing as Old Trafford legend

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has admitted his fears that Red Devils fans will one day stop singing his name.

Cantona scored 81 goals in 179 appearances for United, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups in the process.

The former United captain is often chanted about at Old Trafford and away grounds - and while the 53-year-old enjoys hearing his name being sung, he knows one day it will come to an end.

"I feel proud, I feel great and I feel a bit afraid that they will stop. Because they will stop one day," he told The Official Manchester United Podcast.

Former striker Cantona, who was United from 1992 until his retirement in 1997, also revealed what it was like to be captain at the club.

Eric Cantona is proud that United fans still sing his name more than two decades after he retired (REUTERS)

He admitted he did not feel increased responsibility to help the younger members of the squad despite having the armband.

"If I felt a responsibility? No. Just train hard. I respect myself and I tried to respect the people around me but I didn’t want to be an example," he said.

"I never wanted to be an example. No, I didn’t want to be an example because it’s a way also to feel like being in jail.

Cantona, pictured with Sir Alex Ferguson, won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups with United (PA)

"I love to feel the freedom and I don’t want to put too much pressure on me.

"Everything I can [do] to be more free I [do]. If you say to yourself that you are an example and you have a responsibility for the other ones - for some people it's good, but for me it’s not good."

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