Plenty of Manchester United fans on social media want to see Eric Bailly return to the starting line-up against Sheffield United on Wednesday evening.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to select his most familiar centre-back pairing of Victor Lindelof and captain Harry Maguire as they resumed their Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham on Friday.
Bailly was introduced in the closing stages to sure up the defence, replacing Scott McTominay who was occupying the centre-back role to give the Reds a better platform to attack from.
The Ivorian will be frustrated he didn’t earn a start alongside Maguire in the first game back, particularly given his impressive performances after regaining fitness before the enforced coronavirus break.
The defender has not conceded a goal during the games he has featured in this year, and is arguably a more proficient defender than Victor Lindelof when he can stay fit.
Maguire was more culpable than Lindelof for Steven Bergwijn’s goal for Spurs in the first-half, however. The England international was dribbled past with ease and the Swede could not get across to block the shot that should have been dealt with by David De Gea.
But Lindelof, who has previously shown weakness in physical battles, would likely be the one sacrificed against an imposing Sheffield United side if a change is made.
Do you think Bailly warrants a place ahead of Lindelof in the starting XI? Let us know by tweeting us at Stretty News.
🎯 Sheffield United rank 5th in the Premier League for most accurate long balls this season. [29.8 per game]
Good game to start Eric Bailly in? 💭 pic.twitter.com/d29QnITAW2
— JoshGI 🇾🇪 (@JoshGI97) June 22, 2020
Eric Bailly is yet to concede a goal in 2020
• 2-0 Chelsea
• 5-0 Club Brugge
• 5-0 LASK
• 3-0 Derby
• 2-0 Man CityHe should start vs Sheffield United 💪
— Aidan Walsh 🔰 (@AidanWalshMUFC) June 22, 2020
Maguire doesn't deserve the hate he's definitely improved our defence still feel he's better with Bailly next to him as I feel him and Victor contradict each other.#MUFC #Maguire pic.twitter.com/U7H9MZRmen
— 🔴🔥Red Devil Reports🔥🔴 (@RedDevilReports) June 22, 2020
Hear me out. If that’s Eric Bailly instead of Lindelof that shot gets blocked 🤷♂️#mufc pic.twitter.com/u1CuCW5nVE
— Luke (@_UtdLuke) June 19, 2020
I like Lindelöf tbh. But when fit, Bailly is so much better than him, and should be playing. I worry that he won’t get a lot of minutes between now and the end of the season and looks to leave in the summer because of it. I’d never forgive Ole if he left for that reason.
— 🔥👹🏴🔥 (@MUFC_CPC1985) June 22, 2020
You could make a compilation of Lindelof doing the exact same except it’d be twice as long. Get Bailly back in next to him
— Tom Logan (@tom_logan19) June 22, 2020
For me Bailly does the job. Lindelof’s fine as a rotation player. We’re just suffering for overpaying average CB’s. https://t.co/HJsRQ4MRST
— AhmedMUFC5 (@AhmedMUFC5) June 22, 2020
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