After a polished displayed in the pre-season win at Wigan on Saturday, Mourinho was keen to lavish praise on Bailly, as he looks to reshape his defensive line ahead of the new Premier League season.
Advertisement
Although Bailly had only played 40 La Liga games before signing for United, Mourinho said the Ivory Coast worldwide has the potential to be a world-beater in his position. “I will try to make him the best I can but the reality is that he showed all the potential that we saw when we chose to buy him”.
“My reaction is that I would prefer them to go with the players, and with the team”, the ex-Chelsea chief added.
Bailly played nearly the full game – substituted with seven minutes remaining to a warm round of applause from the United faithful – and Mourinho was happy with what he saw, even if he did acknowledge the defender’s lack of experience.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is enjoying an extended break after Euro 2016 campaign, has not been included in the squad for Manchester United’s upcoming tour to China.
“I’m happy with some principles of our play – offensively and defensively – that we worked on in training”, he explained.
It’s safe to say that Jose Mourinho won’t be missed by some who attend Stamford Bridge on a frequent basis.
“I know it was against a Championship team, and I know they are in the same training process we are”.
“I don’t want to put things in my mind, I am going to take it as it comes”.
All fine though, no danger, and perhaps one of the reasons the new United boss referenced Raphael Varane, who he managed at Real Madrid, when asked about the 22-year-old.
Advertisement
Talking to MUTV, Jose said: “It is the first time he wears a heavy shirt like the United shirt is,”. They are the ones on the pitch and they are the ones that need support and if I could tell them that I would tell them directly: first the players. Below you’ll find the names of the 25 Red Devils players heading to the Far East.
