No Premier League team has a better defensive record than Manchester United at this stage of the 2017-18 campaign. Indeed, the Red Devils have shipped just 18 goals in their 26 fixtures – keeping 15 clean sheets in the process.
Jose Mourinho’s side did not let in a league goal at Old Trafford until November 18, and boast comfortably the best record when it comes to conceding home goals this season. Those statistics suggest that United should be comfortable with their options at the back, but there has been a big hole since Eric Bailly dropped out.
Bailly and Phil Jones were Mourinho’s starting centre-backs in the opening weeks of the campaign, and there is no question that the pair suited each other. Both are all-action defenders, but Bailly has that blistering pace and power that Jones lacks. Chris Smalling is currently the player alongside Jones at the back, and while the Englishman has performed quite well, there remain question marks over his ability to operate on a consistent basis at the highest level.
Indeed, Jones and Smalling had a torrid time against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last week, and while both deserve credit for some strong performances, United are simply not the same unit when Bailly is not on the field.
It has been suggested but not confirmed that Bailly could return to action before the end of this month. The 23-year-old scored once in his first eight Premier League appearances of this season, but he has not played since the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on November 5.
In fact, Bailly has made just two Premier League appearances since the end of September, with Mourinho confirming in December that the centre-back had picked up a serious ankle injury on international duty, which would require surgery. It was a bitter blow for the Red Devils when considering just how impressive he was during his first season in the English game.
Indeed, after arriving from Villarreal in June 2016, Bailly went on to make 38 appearances during the 2016-17 season. He was comfortably United’s best centre-back last term, with his pace, power and defensive qualities complemented by his calmness in possession. He was a snip at £30m, and it will be like a new signing when the Ivory Coast international does eventually return to the team.
The fact that Mourinho allowed Axel Tuanzebe to join Aston Villa on loan last month suggests that Bailly is not too far away. Ander Herrera, meanwhile, posted a video of his teammate running in a pool last month. The defender’s return cannot come soon enough when considering that United are entering a period that will ultimately determine whether this season can be considered successful.
It would be fair to say that the Premier League title has gone, but United will visit Huddersfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup on February 17, before the small matter of a trip to Sevilla for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie. After that, the 20-time English champions will welcome Chelsea in the league.
It is in the Champions League, and indeed the upcoming league games against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, where Bailly’s return, or indeed his absence, will be felt the most. For all of Smalling’s good work in a United shirt, the 28-year-old too often falls just short.
Jones, meanwhile, is still guilty of the odd lapse in concentration. Marcos Rojo has proved a dependable centre-back when fit, but again there are uncertainties over the Argentine’s temperament. Last summer’s acquisition of Victor Lindelof has not worked out thus far, although the Swede will be given time to adjust.
In many ways, Bailly’s game is perfect for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, but his presence in the knockout rounds of this season’s Champions League would be huge for Mourinho. He is cute enough to deal with European centre-forwards, and his searing pace means that United will be able to take more chances when it comes to pushing higher up the field.
It would be wrong to criticise United’s available centre-backs when considering that the team has conceded just twice in their last eight matches in all competitions. There can be little doubting that Bailly must play when fit, however, and he is just as important to Mourinho as the likes of Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.
February is a big month for United, but March is huge as it will bring a home Premier League game against Liverpool, in addition to the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Alexis Sanchez’s arrival boosted the whole club last month, but Bailly’s potentially imminent return is just as important.
