Manchester United legend Eric Cantona acknowledges that the famous club cannot win the Premier League title every single season.

The Red Devils relinquished their Premiers title to crosstown rivals Manchester City last term and are unlikely to bridge the gap with runaway leaders Chelsea this campaign but Cantona still feels Louis van Gaal's side is in a very strong position ahead of a title pursuit in 2015/16.

"City have won the league twice, so they have been successful but they cannot win every year because the Premier League is so strong, it has so many clubs, so many rich clubs," Cantona said at the Laureus Sports Awards in Shanghai.

"Some of them work on the young players and can buy the best players in the world, like United. I prefer this kind of club, who are rich enough to buy the best players they want, and also works on young players.

"United is a great club, so sometimes you have a season when you have to lose games and you finish fourth, fifth. But they came back and next year they can win the league.

"With a manager from Holland, it seems to be important for Manchester United because it's the same kind of philosophy for the game: Holland and Manchester United."