Van Persie's effect similar to Cantona's, says Pallister

Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister believes summer signing Robin van Persie has had a similar effect on club’s morale as Eric Cantona.

Sir Alex signed Van Persie in the summer last year, going against his policy of not signing players in their late 20s, and the move paid off as United regained the title from their arch rivals Manchester City, with the Dutchman scoring 24 goals thus far in the Premier League.

And Pallister, who was at the club from 1989 to 1998, believes that Van Persie’s arrival has turned a good team into a phenomenal one. Speaking to Manchester Evening News, the former England international said:

“I think we needed Eric Cantona’s arrival and his different input then just as the team needed Robin van Persie this season. The arrival of such great players gives everyone a lift. Eric gave the team a boost both mentally and from what he gave on the pitch. He gave us a new creative influence. We were a strong and quick side but maybe lacked a bit of guile.

“The same could be said of this side. They were good but they needed that extra craft. They also had that pain from last season to get over and the arrival of Van Persie would have been a massive booster for them on the eve of the season.

“It was genius to get Cantona and it was an absolute coup to get Robin. He is the whole package, the complete player. He also has an edge to him on the pitch which you don’t like when he is on the opposition side but it’s great when he’s your player.”

Speaking of Van Persie’s second goal against Aston Villa on Monday, the goal that Sir Alex described as ‘the goal of the century’. Pallister added:

“I was in a box at Old Trafford on Monday night against Villa with Bryan Robson and a few others. When he hit that second goal we just all stood up and applauded. It really was a wow moment.

“You think back to Eric’s chip against Sunderland or his free-kick against Arsenal and it was one of those moments. I think back to playing against Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal and Romario when he was at Barcelona and you just think ‘how are you supposed to mark that?’

“They were touched by genius. They did the unexpected and put you on the wrong foot. You didn’t know what they were going to do. Eric was like it as well and so is Robin van Persie. They are players who just take your breath away.”

Sir Alex is said to have consulted veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes before signing Van Persie. And Pallister recalled how the gaffer consulted him and Steve Bruce before signing Cantona from Leeds United.

“That is one of the great managerial qualities of Sir Alex Ferguson. His ego is not that big that it has to be ‘My way or not at all’. He is prepared to listen to players and ask their opinions. He realises he has to work hand-in-hand with his players.

“He asked Steve Bruce and I about Cantona the season before he bought him. After we had played Leeds we were in the bar having a drink and he came up to us and started chatting. Then he threw in the question: ‘What do you think of the French lad?’

“Brucie and I both said he was very difficult to play against. I think the manager now tells the story that we said we couldn’t touch him. I don’t think we said that! But Eric was a difficult opponent. So in some ways it was not a surprise when the manager finally bought him.”