Man Utd legend Eric Cantona delivers Champions League draw speech to rival famous 'seagulls' quote

REUTERS
Tom Doyle29 August 2019

Eric Cantona celebrated receiving the Uefa President's Award with a trademark speech that only 'Le King' could have delivered - literally.

Cantona was presented with the lifetime achievement award during the opening ceremony of the Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco.

With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in attendance and dressed to impress, Cantona - who was never one for formal attire during his playing career - obviously didn't get the memo as he took to the stage in a flat-cap and red shirt.

The Manchester United legend received his award from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, before delivering a brilliantly bizarre speech which highlighted his acting chops.

"As flies to wanton boys, we are for the Gods," he began. "They kill us for the sport."

Ronaldo watched on wide-eyed as Cantona continued: "Soon the science will not only be able to throw down the ageing of the cells, the science will fix the cells to the state, and so we’ll become ... only accidents, crimes, wars will still kill us.

"But unfortunately, crimes and wars will multiply.

"I love football. Thank you."

The speech was reminiscent of Cantona's press conference following his infamous kung-fu kick of a Crystal Palace fan in 1995, during which he declared: "When seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea."

Never change, Eric.

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