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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Dominic Booth

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona releases predictably strange 'Kings Speech' Christmas message

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has forged a reputation as someone who revels in the weird and the wonderful since he brought his playing days to an end.

And his latest instalment, a video called 'The Kings Speech' for Otro , is no different. United fans dubbed Cantona 'King Eric' for his on-field exploits at Old Trafford, helping guide Sir Alex Ferguson's young team to several league titles in the 1990s.

And Cantona, who is just as charismatic — if sometimes a little incoherent — off the pitch, plays up to that nickname.

In the video he touches on Christmas, VAR technology and predictions for 2020, as well as the current United team.

He compared watching United's team at the moment to "like making love as an old man", saying: " Manchester United occupies a special place in my heart, but watching United now is a bit like making love as an old man. You try as hard as you can but at the end of the day everybody is a bit disappointed.

"But they will be back."

Here's everything else he said:

"I'm delighted to report that this year I was finally on Santa's good list. Unlike 1994, 1995, 1996...

"But this year... [he gets out a toy dog].

"How does he do this? Why does he do this? Why did he learn to do this? I guess we'll never know.

"2019 was quite a year for football. The arrival of the VAR, like a drunk uncle gatecrashing your Christmas dinner, vomiting on your favourite jumper before falling asleep in the sprouts. Needless to say it wasn't met with global approval.

"But a new year is almost upon us, which begs the question: what will 2020 bring?

"If Leicester win the league again, what will Gary Lineker do?

"Maybe Megan Rapinoe will overthrow Donald Trump and become the first purple-haired president of the United States?

"I for one would welcome a new hero in the oval office.

"Who will be the one to destroy VAR once and for all? Sometimes I watch a game and I say to myself: 'the referee behind the screen, are they watching the game or a porn movie?'

"Because they are not clearly paying attention.

"What else?

"Maybe Messi will accidentally reveal his alien form when two tentacles fall out of his shorts during a cup game against Real Sociedad?

"He's got to be from outer-space, of course.

"And then, we have the European Championships, which can help unify Europe at this moment."

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