Cantona or Van Dijk? Who had more of an influence in breaking their sides league drought?

Two great clubs struggling for league success. Two legends of the game. Two players in vastly different positions in vastly different eras. However both players proved crucial to their clubs in obtaining the previously unattainable, that being crowned league champions.

Cantona

Cantona joined Manchester United from Leeds United for £1.2 million on 26 November 1992. The Whites chairman Bill Fotherby had actually been enquiring about the availability of Denis Irwin. When told that Irwin was not for sale, Martin Edwards the then Manchester United chairman was instructed by Sir Slex Ferguson to ask about purchasing the Frenchman. The striker has just come off a successful campaign with Leeds where he secured a league title in the previous season, pipping Manchester to the crown and even in the season previous he helped Marseille to to league glory, so could he make it three crowns in a row.

Leeds fans were stunned, however Cantona had all ready handed in a transfer request due to being dropped and it was speculated that he had romantic dalliances with a teammates spouse. Ferguson was in dire need of a goalscorer after Dion Dublins injury and failed attempts to land Alan Shearer and David Hirst. Their lack of threat in front of the goal seen United languish in 8th position by November 7th. Making his debut in a losing effort to Manchester City on December 6th, Cantona had to wait a mere two weeks before grabbing his first goal, against Chelsea, which was followed by another goal against Sheffield Wednesday a week later.

After that United never really looked back, with Cantona leading the charge, the Red Devils finished the league ten points clear, grabbing their first title in 26 years in the process. His performances seen him awarded the all ready iconic No.7 shirt for the next season, where he went onto score 26 goals in all competitions and helped United win the league by 8 points.

The interesting similarity to Van Dijk is what happens when you take him out of the team. 1995 seen Manchester United fail to retain their crown, losing out to Kenny Dalglish and his Blackburn side. It was a close affair however questions lie about what would of happened had the United talisman, Eric Cantona, not been banned for nine months. Yes this of course was the season of the infamous Kung Fu kick.

“When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.”

On January 25th Cantona launched a martial arts style kick into the chest of one Matthew Simmons, who has run down 11 flight of steps to verbally abuse the notriously hot headed Frenchman. Cantona was making his way off the pitch before responding to the taunts with kicks and a few punches for good measure. A lengthy 9 month ban ensued, which ultimately resulted in United surrendering their crown as Champions to Blackburn.

The next season Cantona made his return and helped galvanize the squad again, becoming the first side in history to complete the double twice. In his final season United retained the league, Cantona now having won four league titles in five years with the team, and six in seven years including those won with Marseille and Leeds, the exception being the 1994–95 season which he had missed the second half of through suspension. At the age of 30 Cantona retired from the game all together scoring a total 82 goals in less than five years, oh ah Cantona indeed.

Van Dijk

Remember as fans laughed when Liverpool splashed what seemed like a staggering amount on Virgil Van Dijk from Southmapton. The fee of 75 million, a world record fee in football for a defender, was in hindsight was as cheap as chips. After a long protracted transfer saga and a club apology from the Pool, Klopp finally landed his man on January 1st 2018. Immediately endearing himself to fans by scoring on his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Everton in the FA Cup.

A strong partnership ensued with Lovern and helped Liverpool get all the way to the Champions League final, where they defeated Porto, Man City and Roma on route to taking on Real Madrid in the final. Unfortunately for The Reds, two goal keeping errors lead to Los Blancos lifting the trophy. It was heartbreaking but Pool fans remained optomistic about the future with the Dutchman providing stability and compusre in the heart of defence

Within a full calendar year Van Dijk played 32 league matches for Liverpool managing to keep 18 clean sheets in the process and conceding just 17 goals in the process. Its hard to remember but at a point before Virgils arrival, a staggering 32.9 per cent of all the goals conceding by Liverpool under Klopp had come from set-pieces. That’s between 13-15 goals a season, now juxtapose that to the total of just 22 goals conceding the the whole league in Van Dijks first full year.

Yes the arrival of Allison in goal helped, however it was undoubtedly the leadership of Virgil Van Dijk that allowed Liverpool to exert their attacking prowess on the league that year. Unfortunate not to come away with the premier League crown, losing to Man City by a solidary point, Liverpool still managed to snap the Champions League title from league rivals Tottenham. He got Man of the Match that night and claimed runner up in that years Balon D’or.

Just like finishing as runners up in the Champions League gave Liverppol the impetus to go on and win the thing in 2019, it was wondered if they could replicate that with league success in the following season. The answer was simply ….yes. Liverpool blew away the opposition the next year securing the title with a staggering 99 points, 16 points clear of their rivals. A 30 year drought finally over as players and fans around the world rejoiced. Just like Cantona’s arrival, Van Dijk seemed like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle being put into nplace.

However also like Cantona, the defender faced a long spell of the sidelines to following season. An injury at the hands of Everton goal keeper seen Klopp have a defensive crisis on his hands. The side barely managed to scrap Champions League qualification on the last day of the season without having the use of their defensive stalwart. All though his legacy as a legend is cemented, their are still plenty of more chapters for VVD to etched into the history books as a player.

It may be hard to determine, it may even be a silly question but with United v Liverpool coming up the question is still fun to ask. Who had a greater influence over their sides search for Premier League success? Virgil Van Dijk or Eric Cantona? Sound off in the comments and we will address the question on air this weekend.