In the Manchester United of Jose Mourinho, no one is guaranteed playing time. Central defender Eric Bailly conveyed just how extremely competitive the situation is right now in the back line. Chris Smalling, a regular starter and one of the main key outfield players under Louis van Gaal, isn’t seeing much playing time these days.
Neither is Victor Lindelof, a £30 million summer transfer window addition, whose situation has been well chronicled and heavily covered.
It doesn’t matter who you are- no place is guaranteed, and you simply must earn it. Eric Bailly, the very first signing of the Mourinho era in the summer of 2016, articulated the lay of the land in the official club magazine.
“It’s very important for us, it’s important for the team, it’s important for the manager, and when it’s [competitive for places],’ Bailly told United Review. ‘There is also competition amongst ourselves, so we always have to improve because I don’t think anyone is automatically entitled to their position in that team.”
Despite the limited number of minutes to go around, and numerous players looking to get on the pitch, the Ivory Coast international says everybody gets along well in the defender position group.
‘There’s a good relationship between Phil and me, and with the other two defenders, Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling, even though we’ve not had the chance to play together yet.”
“It’s fine in my view because there are four of us defenders and everyone is ready to make the most of the opportunities the manager gives us. To defend as well as possible and concede less goals, that’s the aim for all of us.”
Eric Bailly has played in every game for United this Premier League season, until he was rested versus lowly Crystal Palace this past Saturday.
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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