Bailly ‘was rested’ ahead of Cup semi

JOSE Mourinho has suggested Eric Bailly was rested for United’s Premier League fixture against West Brom.

The 24-year-old central defender played the full 90 minutes in last week’s derby comeback at City but was omitted from the matchday squad for the visit of basement club West Brom.

Mourinho recalled Victor Lindelof to the starting XI, having selected the Swede ahead of Bailly for the Old Trafford victory against Swansea two weeks ago.

West Brom was the first of three games in a week for United, who travel to Bournemouth on Wednesday and face Tottenham in their FA Cup semifinal at Wembley on Saturday.

Mourinho suggested Lindelof was chosen over Bailly partly due to the upcoming schedule.

“Normally, we are going to have more of the ball and, normally, it’s when we need somebody from the back to add extra technical quality in the middle of the back,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“We have three matches in a week. Bournemouth in a few days [Wednesday night] then Spurs after a few days again.

“In that semi-final, they are having one day extra to us to recover so I need also to think about that.”

West Brom is Lindelof’s 27th appearance of a debut campaign where he did not make his league debut until October.

Bailly is still expected to partner Chris Smalling in the Cup semi-final.