A big endorsement for Sir Jim Ratcliffe! Eric Cantona backs INEOS chief as the man to get Man Utd 'back to their best'

The former United captain drew comparisons between his time at the club to the time under the Glazers when they saw an epic downfall. He pointed out that the feeling of being part of one big family played an important role in the success that Sir Alex Ferguson's sides achieved in over two decades.

Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group took charge of the club as minority stakeholders, they have brought several changes to the day-to-day functioning of the organisation. One such reform was ending the work-from-home culture that prevailed at the club since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns. As per Cantona, employees coming back to the club will help establish the old family feeling that was lacking till now.

Speaking to The Athletic, the 58-year-old said: "I believe in energy moving between people and they want to take that back at Manchester United, which is very important. When you meet the people, you see someone, you meet another woman and you say: ‘Hello, good morning’. It’s like family. I remember my time (at the club), we say hello to everybody. It was a big family, and the energy was all between us. Not only the players, not only the manager, not only the chairman but all the people who work at the club.

"Things changed since the Glazers arrived. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left. And it’s important to take that back. To have this energy. To have this feeling of: ‘We are part of the family, and we are here, I can speak to you, look in your eyes, I can shake your hand, looking in your eyes, I can feel you, I can get a sense of why you don’t really feel good, or why you did this or why you feel great today’. It’s important. It’s very important."

After playing two pre-season friendlies in Norway and Scotland, the Red Devils are all set to visit the United States where they will play three friendly matches against Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Betis.