Manchester United legend Eric Cantona reveals reason for 'seagulls and trawler' speech - with a twist

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has finally admitted his famous 'seagulls follow the trawler' speech was spontaneous jibberish he made up to throw off the British press.

After assaulting a Crystal Palace fan with a kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park in January 1995, Cantona was banned for eight months and he avoided being sent to jail.

Fortunately for Cantona, a possible two-week prison sentence was reduced to community service, while the fan, Matthew Simmons, was given a £500 fine for abusive behaviour and also received a year-long stadium ban during the trial at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

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The incident made the front pages of every British newspaper and a press conference was arranged, which saw Cantona embark on a bizarre speech about seagulls following a trawler.

Cantona told the press conference "when the seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea," and many believed it had a deep meaning.

The 57-year-old has explored arts and culture since his retirement from football and he recently spoke to French chatshow C dans l’air to perform a song from his new album.

In that interview, he clarified his famous speech and said: "After the [court] judgment, they [United] absolutely wanted me to speak to the press.

"I didn’t want to but they said it’s important you have to speak to the press. So I said, OK I will speak to the press, in the sense that they want me to speak – I’ll say any old thing.

"They wanted me to speak, I spoke. It just came out and then I left. And the press, they all tried to find a sense to it and make it all