Manchester United have been dealt a serious blow after Eric Bailly revealed he is not expected to play again before Christmas having limped out of the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Ivory Coast defender has been one of José Mourinho’s most consistent performers since moving to Old Trafford from Villarreal in the summer for £30m. Bailly has started all nine Premier League matches for United so far but was replaced by Marcos Rojo in the 52nd minute at Stamford Bridge after sustaining a knee injury.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho said that Bailly “feels it is really bad” and that prognosis was confirmed on Tuesday when medical tests showed the 22‑year‑old has sustained a lateral knee ligament injury. “I wanted to thank you for all the messages of support that I received since the injury! I hope to be able to play again for United and The Elephants before 2 months, God willing,” Bailly wrote on Instagram.
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The news is a major setback for Mourinho before the EFL Cup match against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The United manager is under increased scrutiny after the heavy defeat against his former club on Sunday and the loss of a player who has made a promising start to his career in England leaves him with just Rojo, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind as options to play in central defence.
Bailly is expected to miss important Premier League games against Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur and is then due to play for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 14 January in Gabon.