Boss facing dilemma with defensive duo after Brighton farce
VICTOR Lindelof and Eric Bailly will have been relieved their numbers did not go up on the fourth official’s board at Brighton. As perverse as that sounds.
For a defender, particularly, it is the most humiliating and confidenceshattering thing that can happen – being substituted after a mistake.
And, let’s be honest, Bailly and Lindelof would not have had any complaints had they been hooked at halftime after a shocking first 45 minutes.
It was just their second competitive game playing together in a two-man partnership and they looked like strangers.
There are not many vocal leaders back there – David de Gea is not one to shout – and United’s defence was at sea every time Brighton crossed the halfway line. The same Brighton that did not even manage a shot on target against Watford in their first game of the season.
United’s backline did not move or defend as a unit; on one occasion, when Ashley Young and Bailly pushed up to set an offside trap, Lindelof was hanging back.
Veteran Glenn Murray, who is hardly a sprint king, was causing as many problems with his movement as his physicality.
But, tellingly, Mourinho refused to haul off his defenders at any point on Sunday. Instead, Andreas Pereira and Juan Mata were the ones to make way at the break.
Mourinho has never held back when it comes to criticising his players but, equally, he is not the type to scapegoat. That may seem a contradiction, but he will not be blaming Lindelof and Bailly for that Brighton collapse – even if their errors directly led to goals.
No one could hold their heads high after that performance and only a smattering of players felt comfortable enough to salute the travelling support at the final whistle. Lindelof was among them. It is a delicate situation. Does Mourinho take Lindelof and Bailly out of the firing line for the visit of a certain Harry Kane on Monday night or does he stand by them against Spurs? Both decisions could affect Bailly and Lindelof’s confidence. If they have another nightmare against Spurs, suddenly there is talk of crisis; if they are benched for Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, then you wonder whether they can bounce back any time soon.
How Mourinho must be pining for the return of his ‘monster’, Nemanja Matic, to give that defence some cover but the Serbian, alone, would not have spared United’s blushes at the Amex.
They need to go back to basics.
But, tellingly, Mourinho refused to haul off his defenders at any point on Sunday Ciaran Kelly