Peter Schmeichel has now admitted that he asked one “very nice” fellow Manchester United legend how they were ‘getting away’ with not speaking to the media.
The 61-year-old Dane is widely regarded as one of Manchester United’s best No 1s and one of the best Premier League shot-stoppers of all time.
Peter Schmeichel had a sensational impact at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Danish side Brondby in 1991 for a £505,000 transfer fee.
The United legend was an important first-team player for former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s and impressed with his presence between the sticks.
During his time at Old Trafford, Schmeichel lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, three FA Cups and a League Cup with United.
The former Denmark international also played a key role in United’s famous treble-winning season in the 1998-99 campaign before his Old Trafford exit.
Schmeichel talks up Man Utd legend
Following on from Manchester United’s continental treble win, Peter Schmeichel went on to play for Sporting CP before he returned to England with Aston Villa.
Schmeichel then made the shock decision to sign for Manchester City in 2002 and saw out the remainder of his remarkable playing career with United’s rivals.
The former United No 1 shared the pitch with a roster of Sir Alex Ferguson’s star-studded talent at Old Trafford, including Red Devils legend Eric Cantona.
Eric Cantona had a transformative impact on the Premier League club after Ferguson landed the eccentric Frenchman from Leeds United in 1992 for a £1m transfer fee.
The 58-year-old former United superstar was a larger-than-life presence at Old Trafford and was a key player for former Aberdeen and Red Devils boss Ferguson.
Cantona lifted four Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Red Devils before his unexpected retirement from football in 1997 at the age of 30.
Speaking to The Guardian, Schmeichel said that Cantona “never did any media” and his ex-United teammate had duped the press into thinking he couldn’t speak English.
“It was funny because Cantona never did any media,” he told the newspaper.
“They thought he couldn’t speak English. I’m rooming with him and we’re laughing as I say: ‘How do you get away with this?’
“I like Cantona a lot because he created this persona. There’s no doubt he is that. But he’s also a genuinely normal, very nice guy you can talk to about anything.”
Schmeichel on playing under Ferguson
Schmeichel opened up about his time under Ferguson and he admitted his two children at the time – Cecilie and Kasper – only saw a limited range of emotions from him.
“Absolutely, but it was a different time and think about who I worked for,” he said.
“Alex Ferguson wanted ultimate strength, ultimate commitment. Top-level performances all the time. Bringing emotions into the equation might be seen as a weakness.
“But I now know, with hindsight and maturity, that if I brought personal issues to him, he took it seriously.
“He loved me as a footballer. I was ideal for his team and he always helped me.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/ukWUEAG