The Portuguese admits the defender’s injury is worrying and could face a long injury lay-off
Eric Bailly is suspected to have suffered ligament damage during Manchester United’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, according to Jose Mourinho.
The 22-year-old defender only arrived from Villarreal this summer, in a £30 million move, but it seems his fine start to the campaign is now to be followed by a significant spell on the sidelines.
Bailly is now on the treatment table alongside Phil Jones, who has almost been forgotten at Old Trafford – after also suffering ligament damage.
And the fact that fellow defender Chris Smalling has recently returned from a muscle injury, and Wayne Rooney was out for Sunday’s defeat following an injury picked up in training, is not good news for Mourinho.
“He is injured and I am afraid it is a bad injury. It is in his knee, the ligament area. He feels it is really bad.” said Mourinho.
Bailly came off after 52 minutes, after tangling with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
Goals from Pedro, Gary Cahill, Hazard and N’Golo Kante sealed the win for Antonio Conte’s men, who have endured some inadequate results in recent weeks – including defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal.
