NO RESPECT

Bailly hits back at Souness onslaught, saying: ‘I don’t mind people criticising me, but he was harsh and personal. I am still young and I need support’

IT has been one of the hardest weeks of Eric Bailly’s career.

But one “disrespectful” comment stands out in the aftermath of Manchester United’s listless display against Brighton.

TV pundit Graeme Souness claimed Bailly did not know “if he’s in New York or New Year” during last Sunday’s disastrous defeat on the south coast.

“I always take criticism well, when they are constructive, when they are there to help. I actually like criticism, but in a positive way,” said Red Devils defender Bailly. “But what Souness said was a little bit disrespectful because it became so personal. It’s not the sort of criticism that can help a young player improve and become a better player.”

United legend Gary Neville was equally cutting, claiming that Bailly and Victor Lindelof are not good enough to be in a titlewinning team.

“The criticism was a bit harsh, particularly from people who have played the game and have probably made mistakes themselves during their career,” said 24-year-old Bailly.

“As young players, we need support from these people. If we got more support from them, that can help us. But negative comments, all of the time, doesn’t help the young players or the team.

“It was not just one individual performance on Sunday. It was the whole team that struggled. But it was just one battle lost, not the whole war.

“But it’s one game. We cannot forget that. We shouldn’t just focus on the negative, but build on the positive, starting with Tottenham on Monday.”

Bailly has found the level of criticism difficult to understand bearing in mind United won their opening game of the season and his own time at Old Trafford has largely been positive. But the mood suddenly changed this week.

The Ivory Coast defender points to Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra taking time to settle before becoming United legends, while he won the League Cup and Europa League in his first season, and even the second was good until interrupted by injuries.

Bailly, who is quiet, softly spoken, and yet very strong mentally, said: “The critics are sometimes good, sometimes bad. But this is my third season and, up to now, they have always been positive.

“So one piece of negativity will not change my goal and my target, which is to become a very good player for Manchester United.

“I’m still smiling because I know what I can do. It doesn’t change anything. Sometimes, you can have a bad day, the best thing is not to think about it too much, not to let it affect you, and focus on the next game and making a positive response.”

Bailly was a Jose Mourinho signing back in 2016, and now the focus has switched back to the United boss, who is under the spotlight with his future looking uncertain.

Paul Pogba questioning the attitude of the players in the Brighton game has raised further doubts, but Bailly insists they can still win the title this season and maintained they must respond for the manager.

He added: “What Paul talked about was the attitude of the players. But I don’t think we took it into the game. I think it was a bad day for all of the players, the whole team underperformed. We need to put it behind us.

“I can’t guess what’s going on in other players’ minds, but he is the manager and we have to listen to him and obviously perform better.

“It’s a long championship and it’s still too early to say, but I believe we can still win the title, if we stick together and carry on working hard.

“It’s good that we have a big game this week. The boss has tried to prepare the team, get us back to our best. Beating Tottenham, winning on Monday, would send a strong message in terms of the morale of the whole team.”