Massive Blow: Man United lose their player of the season so far with serious knee injury
Oct 24, 2016 at 1:34 PM
A dismal day for Manchester United fans has somehow got even worse with news of a serious injury for one of their top performers.
Eric Bailly, a superb acquisition from Villareal in the summer, has according to Jose Mourinho, picked up a “bad injury”.
Bailly had to come off for Marcos Rojo in the 52nd minute and Chelsea up 2-0, so it didn’t change the match, but it will change many Manchester United matches to come.
“He’s injured & I’m afraid he’s badly injured. In his knee, in the ligament area, he feels it is really bad.”
Jose Mourinho on Eric Bailly: “He’s injured & I’m afraid he’s badly injured. In his knee, in the ligament area, he feels it is really bad.” pic.twitter.com/9FTuB70K9P
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 23, 2016
The very fact he managed to walk off the pitch suggests it’s unlikely a full tear of his cruciate ligaments, any problem for the Ivorian is dreadful news for United considering Chris Smalling is rather unhelpfully rediscovering his calamitous 2014 form.
Even a somewhat short-term injury could be arriving at the wrong time with Bailly set to leave for the Africa Cup Of Nations in January so the man who had been ever-present until today’s knock will be out of action regardless.
United fans are justifiably fearing the worst across Twitter.
Bailly out for the season???
— ??⚪️Ⓜ️ (@rlscity) October 23, 2016
Ligaments for Bailly. Fucksake.
— Stephen Howson (@MrStephenHowson) October 23, 2016
That Bailly news has made me thirsty. pic.twitter.com/2W75Nj6wyQ
— United Religion (@Unitedology) October 23, 2016
It will likely be a few days before there’s any official word on the extent of the injury.
This year, United haven’t been good at all. But Bailly’s been one of the few bright spots in an alarmingly underperforming and disorganized team. He was the least heralded of Mourinho’s four signings this summer, and he’s far and away been the most important. Paul Pogba may be the most expensive signing ever and Zlatan Ibrahimovic may get the spotlight, but Bailly has been the man who most changed the team.
In Bailly’s absence, United will have to lean on one of Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, or even Phil Jones if things get really rough. And, that’s less than ideal, as last season showed.
It’s hard to imagine United’s day being any worse than simply the result against Chelsea. They were soundly beaten on the day – outplayed, and overrun. The defense was shambolic from the start, Pogba again never managed to find his way into the game, and Ibrahimovic was largely absent from proceedings aside from spurning a couple presentable chances.
But those things can be fixed and they can turn it around. At least that was the thinking before United lost their best player. Now everything looks a whole lot tougher.