PAGE 30 DAILY MIRROR, Monday, October 2, 1995 • •

1 HERE were as many tricolours fluttering on the Stretford End T!a s in on Bastille Day. A mass of red, white and blue as made his return at caught cold as Cantona's first touch led hands for £400. Face painters were doing after nearly nine months in exile. to 's goal. While his second big business and little girls queued up to He came out last and into a barrage of half penalty levelled it for United amid daubed in red, white and blue with the acclaim, the anthem 'Ooh aah Eric scenes of total ecstasy. No 7 on their foreheads. Cantona' ringing around the ground. It HAT a way to make a comeback. A boxer dog, wearing a Cantona shirt, sent shivers down your back. Expectation exceeded to bind still cocked his leg outside the packed Even when the Frenchman had strolled Wtighter the love affair between merchandising shop. out for his warm-up. the team Cantona and his public. While inside, Cantona's father Albert - already on the pitch - turned their Outside Old Trafford you could buy and his brother Joel were buying up heads to look at him. It was as if they Cantona confetti, red, white and blue souvenirs. were already hypnotised by the occasion. pieces of paper, or ten different kind of Eric, himself, could not have made a Within 68 seconds of the kick off we T- shirts welcoming him back. greater impact if he had philosophised SIMPLY RED: Looking right for the big day knew they were. The Merseymen were Tickets that cost £20 were changing about it himself. Languid and laid back.

•f From Back Page HEY'VE been 248 long perhaps we did not days without him. But deserve to. the faithful began "Eric did well but T he's feeling it now." where they left off - cheer­ Liverpool boss Roy ing an Eric Cantona goal. Evans was furious Back on January 22, the with referee David French king reigned for the last Elleray and snapped: time with a headed beauty "He had three major against Blackburn. decisions to make and Seventy-two hours later he got them all wrong." was condemned to life in exile Evans was incensed for the kung-fu kick that's been that shown a million times over. and Steve McMana- Now Cantona was back doing man appeared to be what he does best. Entertaining. pulled down in the box making us smile and bringing with Elleray refusing the house down with a goal that appeals for penalties. kept the party alive just as Then when Jamie Liverpool threatened to turn the Redknapp went in on bubbly flat. His equaliser also , Elleray rewarded boss for this time did award refusing to let the most con­ the spot-kick from troversial figure in football which United saved the walk out of Old Trafford. game. Glorious Nervous It was a glorious moment to Evans said: "I've seen savour for the fans who have the video. Redknapp remembered him with "ooh- played the ball. I am aah" chants since that grim very disappointed. winter's night at Selhurst Park. "But the whole occa­ Cantona. his Bastille days sion was about Eric over, enjoyed every bit of this Cantona. We were very glorious time in his life. And the nervous early on. 70th minute produced a moment "United supporters of controversy and a goal that came to pay homage to signalled "Eric is back". Cantona. But Robbie With a full head of steam, he Fowler was the star." galloped like a thoroughbred Fowler had equalised into the head of the Liverpool for Liverpool with a defence and then released Ryan tremendous shot in­ Giggs in the box. But the flying side Peter Schme- winger was sent sprawling in a ichel's near post, then clash which ended in a booking cleverly beat the keep­ for . er with a chip for a goal There were grumbles all round ;.•• that Liverpool's classy when ref David Elleray pointed Ifi football deserved. to the spot. But Cantona just i It even had Ferguson stood there waiting to his saying: "Fowler's fin­ comeback. I1W ishing was fantastic. And then up he walked to The first one was good, plant the ball casually into the but the second was bottom corner — to deafening absolutely first class. sounds of delight. And oh, how "Did I have any Cantona celebrated with a full- 111 doubts about Cantona speed rush to his faithful fans as taking our spot-kick? he stood on the advertising Tell me — who was __ m going to take the ball off him'.'" m •• DAILY MIRROR, Monday, October 2, 199S PAOB 31 T-shirt cocked a leg in salute ports writer his return was quite sensational. So their fear of him. United should have point of pressure. But while a crowd of was the reception he received. had a second when Cantona rolled a just over 34,000 came to pay homage to IVERPOOL were star-struck too. They lovely hall across the face of the goal, a Frenchman, it was one of England's had walked out In his shadow, Old but hit David James when own whose name was on everyone's lips. LTrafford glorifying his return. he should have hit the back of the net. OBBIE Fowler scored two goals of And then in the first half stood off But what the flamboyant exceptional quality, combining raw power and let him play. Perhaps they didn't Frenchman has given United is a quality R finishing with exquisite skills. think they had to tackle him, or even and the class that always promises to He couldn't steal Eric's big day, but did mark him come to that. bring something special. remind us of the qualities that exist among He made space for himself, and Cantona will clearly build a partner­ the emerging talents of English football. Liverpool allowed him to have it. It ship with that will produce But "Mon Genius" is back among us wasn't until the 25th minute they got goals. For he has the unique ability to again. We look forward to the rest of the to grips with Cantona. and finally lost play the ball short or long, and vary the season with eager anticipation. THE message says it all for this supporter

Vive le difference CANTONA is mobbed by delighted (MOM United team-mates after his penalty CLOCKWATCH (left) but it's Liverpool's (11 ERIC Cantona's his own team in their turn to 4 mV I glorious pass tracks when he inadver­ celebrate across goal arrowed tently got in the way of (right) as straight to Nicky Butt a shot from . Robbie and the ball was in the 1CCantona's up to Fowler and net for the greatest ever 5•VVhis tricks again Jason start to a comeback. when he robbed Phil McAteer flQCantona skinned Babb and tried to thread acclaim 4•VWJason McAtcer the ball through his legs, their first and was only stopped in but this time the genius goal his tracks by a foul. was defeated. Pictures: /I ' |OWe saw a lovely R "IflRuddock misdi- ALBERT "•ICone-touch to Roy U«I Vreeted a header to Keane, then a nudge to his old enemy. Cantona COOPER Pal lister and then a flick reacted faster than any to Butt which Liverpool other man with a float­ keeper David James ed pass to Cole but a blocked. linseman's flag robbed us of a moment of glory. ["yErie was in lull *¥•• # flow and only the C 19Tne gentleman in double act of Jamie Red­ MaiCCantona was knapp and there for us all to see stopped him in when he collided his tracks when with keeper he was released James and im­ by a Ryan Gig­ mediately held gs throw. out a hand of Liverpool's soot of bother 0f|Eriewas friendship. 4•I-lPreally Superb Andy Cole, wnose only previous erpool produced a goal ol such warmed up and '' ' • contro< l Manchester United 2, Liverpool 2 experience of Cantona was one- magnificence it threatened to a glorious back- again, a glance and-a-bit games, was delighted overshadow anything Cantona heel brought "oohs" and up,and the ball was re­ "aahs " from the crowd. leased to Cole with pre­ hoardings to take their salute. And with hands outstretched in to see him lurking out danger­ could do. McManaman picked magic One by one they bowed to their front of his torso, he motioned ously on the left. out Fowler, who scorched across cision from 30 yards. *§•£.•! Sskill s of the ©A reverse pass to king. The goal he and they had that the Razor had a few extra Eric's left foot produced a the turf to unleash a power drive flowing Frenchman pro­ dreamed about was reality. And pounds on his tummy. Cantona that flew into the top corner. Beckham brought delightful curling ball to Nicky duced the controlling of the crowd to their feet of all the millions of flags, T- even dared to suggest that Rud­ The only French Fowler prob­ a ball with the outside of shirts and slogans printed about dock was fat around the chops Butt who controlled, stepped! and then it was Cantona's forward and gleefully grabbed ably knows is that fries come his foot and then a first shot, whipped past Cantona's return one stood out — a gesture which brought loud his own moment of glory. with his burger — but he was the sudden switch with a to describe this epic moment. whoops of delight from the one who dined on another belter pass to Andy Cole. the upright. It was displayed on a little red United fans lapping up every One-nil — and boy, were we go­ in the 54th minute. /| QOCantona's great j Can tona was devil and said simply: "Rage was second of the big man's return. ing to have a party. But Liver­ Redknapp spotted him with a • »Mfc.gift of one-touch really fired up Eric had arrived in silence pool were in no mood to join in. football brought more and his goalbound volley temporary. Class is forever." three hours before kick-off. But glorious through ball and he That cannot be questioned. We Redknapp. Robbie Fowler and bumped Gary Neville aside cries of admiration with cannoned off Ruddock. it took just 68 seconds of play Steve McManaman were red- before clipping home his second a delightful pass which all know Cantona's failings. We for him to get in on the act The goal they'd all know he lives life on a short hot. And in the 33rd minute. Lfv- goal. You could hear the groans. set up Lee Sharpe. **••—Mall waited for. fuse. But it's unthinkable to Eric's big day looked like being J% ^OThe maestro Cantona, as cool as yon believe we could exist happily wrecked. • »**had now opened like, showed no nerves as without his glorious touch, his But oh, those of us with little his full bag of tricks and he brushed off the cob­ armour-piercing passes and How he figured it out.. faith. We should know better. after a one-two with webs to sweep his heart-warming goals. And when Cantona struck that Giggs we witnessed penalty past James. WE logged Eric Cantona's contribution to yesterday's match. Here 70th-minute penalty, we were all another of his specialities I yiftCantona's hav­ He even found time to take the are all the facts and figures from his remarkable return game: able to rejoice in his greatness. - a backheel flick which ing fun with a mickey out of — ripped Liverpool apart. last season's main tormentor Goals 1 Tackles won ..1 UNITED: Schmeichel 6; G gesture that Ruddock is Neville 6, Bruce 6, Paltister 6, P Neville 6, Neil Ruddock made his rather large around the when Cantona snapped after the Shots on target 2 Tackles lost 4 CANTONA 8, Butt (inj) 6, Keane 6, Sharpe 6, presence felt with a bone- tummy area and neck. Liverpool centre-back constantly Cole 7, Giggs 7. Subs: Beckham 6, Scholes 6. crunching block. Shots off target 1 Fouls ...O I /%Fyl'lic final whis- turned his proud collar down. Passes on target 31 Fowled .1 LIVERPOOL: James 6; McAteer 6, Babb 6, /% J\ /|Cantona, for Scales 6, Harkness 6, Ruddock 6, McManaman once, stopped MBnlMtle. Cantona's Now here was the Frenchman Passes off target 12 Compiled by MARK IRWIN 6, Redknapp 7, Rush 6, Thomas 6, FOWLER day is complete. being challenged by Ruddock. 8. Referee: D Elleray 4.