Manchester United central defender Eric Bailly admits that his club currently isn’t at the same level it used to be. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, the Red Devils haven’t been serious contenders for the Premier League title and haven’t advanced deep in Europe.
United have only finished in the top four once in the past four years, and that was a fourth place finish in 2014-15. Bailly knows the elite history and tremendous prestige that comes with the United badge and he believes the club is ready to show the world that they are back at that level.
Old Trafford has spent big money to bring in the right players and the right manager, and now it is time to deliver on all those high expectations, Eric Bailly believes.
In a fascinating interview that the Ivory Coast international gave to several British newspapers he said that this is the season we’ll see big things happen.
“The team has always been at a world-class level, they have just had some bad moments,” he said. “Now it’s time to give Manchester United its value and that comes with our hard work and all the players that arrive to help the club.”
“We have to get together and make a solid group to start this season. I think that with all the hard work put in, we are going to demonstrate that we are a world-class club again.”
United travel to Swansea City tomorrow, looking to match the dominant effort they put in at home versus West Ham in the season opener. Eric Bailly was the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era, coming over in the summer of 2016. He discussed his adjustment to the Premier League, assessed his first season and made big aspirations for this season.
“When I came to Manchester, it was a bigger step from when I was in Villarreal,” he added. “The manager had confidence in me and has brought me as his first signing, But it’s not easy. When you come to the team there are players that have more experience in the English league and I had to see how the football was played.”
“I’ve had the luck to be in a dressing-room that is like family. The majority of players speak French and Spanish, like Ander (Herrera) and Juan (Mata) as well as Paul (Pogba) and (Anthony) Martial.”
“In my first season it was very good for me. We reached the objective which was to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League. Hopefully this season will be even better.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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