Just by way of the eye test, Eric Bailly performs like a more accomplished defender than Victor Lindelof.
Bailly is faster, stronger, and more alert to danger than the increasingly hapless Swede.
The Ivory Coast international’s claim for a starting spot is strongly backed up by statistics too.
Get past Bailly if you can
Since Bailly returned to action in February, he has been solid and United have been hard to score against when he has been on the pitch.
In a total of 870 minutes of first team action, Bailly has conceded just three goals.
These game against Norwich, Bournemouth and LASK. Apart from those three strikes, Bailly has kept United’s goal well protected.
By comparison, in just 90 minutes against Crystal Palace with Victor Lindelof in defence, United conceded three goals, the same number Bailly has in 870.
The decision should be made
While it would have been nice to see Teden Mengi get a first ever start for United at Luton, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had some more immediate planning to do.
Bailly started alongside Harry Maguire, in preparation for a defensive partnership which should start this weekend.
While Lindelof is not a total lost cause, the time has come for him to spend a stretch on the sidelines.
Bailly has waited patiently for a run in the team, and was harshly overlooked for the Europa League semi-final after a strong quarter-final performance.
His defensive record has been overlooked, and it is time he gets the credit he deserves.
While injuries will be a concern for Bailly, right now he is fit, and United have to use him.
If he does not start against Brighton on Saturday then it will be unjust, and a big disappointment.
- Marcus Rashford will have a new Man United role involving Tynan Thompson when he returns
- Michael Carrick can hand a legacy-defining debut after wonderkid sighting in latest Man Utd training
- Why Man Utd shouldn’t hesitate on Juventus’ Joshua Zirkzee interest
- Radek Vitek is about to test Ineos in a big way, they’ve cracked half of the challenge at Man Utd
- Alex Scott vs Manu Kone: Why 185-duel midfielder is the right choice to finish Man United rebuild
- Alejandro Garnacho triggered Man Utd fans with his antics last summer, it could come full circle now
- Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo’s return date to Man United pre-season training confirmed
- Youri Tielemans has a trait that Kobbie Mainoo needs to learn from him in Man Utd training
- Benjamin Sesko injury update and return timeline, what happened to Man Utd striker and way forward
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
