Bailly’s fight to save Old Trafford career
IT has been a long road to recovery for Eric Bailly at United.
An encouraging end to last season was ended prematurely by injury, before a three-match cameo in pre-season was ended abruptly in the sweltering heat of Shanghai.
The Ivory Coast international has missed the entire campaign so far having sustained a serious knee injury against Tottenham in China, and for United fans it was a case of being disappointed but not entirely surprised.
Supporters could be excused for forgetting Bailly was even at the club such has been the extent of his lengthy lay-off, but last week Ole Gunnar Solskjaer indicated a return could be on the cards soon.
“I think we can see them coming into training, especially Eric, in the next two to three weeks,” the United manager said. “Hopefully, he can join the boys and he won’t take too long.”
It is huge testament to the mental strength of the 25-year-old that he is so close to overcoming another serious injury, but now it is a test of his physical strength to somehow force his way back into the first-team plans.
A lot has changed since Bailly’s injury lay-off, most notably the addition of a club-record signing who occupies the same position.
Harry Maguire is not only the star summer signing at Old Trafford but he is already being fast-tracked as a future captain of the club under Solskjaer, and United’s best football is still being played with a four man defence in which Victor Lindelof is the preferred option to complete the partnership.
However, in tough defensive games Solskjaer is more comfortable absorbing play with a three-man central defence, and it is in this formation Bailly could get his lifeline. In an ideal world the majority of supporters would still prefer to see Axel Tuanzebe given a chance. Prior to his injury earlier in the season Tuanzebe not only showcased his fine individual talents but he showed the type of form which might have dislodged Lindelof from his starting berth.
With the absence of Tuanzebe it has fallen upon Marcos Rojo to fill
Bailly must be wondering ‘what if’ had an unfortunate knee injury not cut his pre-season short Richard Fay
the void in defence and in the Argentine they have an erratic, yet popular, option who might have done enough to earn a reprieve following a failed summer exit.
Watching on from the sidelines Bailly must be wondering ‘what if’ had an unfortunate knee injury not cut his pre-season short and thrown his long-term future into dispute.
The Ivorian’s pace and tenacity seems like the perfect style to compliment Maguire’s no-nonsense approach, but time is running out.
Even if Solskjaer persists with the new three man defensive system it feels like the United squad has overindulged in central defenders, and one could easily leave once the market opens in under two months time.
In order to save his career Bailly needs to not only be carefully eased back into action by United, but he must ensure he does not over commit to needless, and at times costly, challenges which have previously punctuated his Old Trafford career.
What is encouraging for the Ivorian is that Solskjaer is open to give anyone a chance, and he need only look at Rojo to see what gaining the manager’s trust can do for your standing at the club.
Equally the United manager has also shown that anyone surplus to requirement can be culled from the United squad, and it is now down to Bailly to prove why he should avoid falling victim to the mid-season reshuffle.