Rio Ferdinand has torn Eric Bailly to shreds for his performance in Manchester United’s stunning 3-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to play Bailly, 24, at right-back, but that decision was shown to be a mistake very early on when the ex-Villarreal defender allowed Juan Bernat to score for PSG.
The Ivory Coast international was forced off the pitch after a disastrous 36 minutes with an injury, and Ferdinand believes that it would have been terrible management by Solskjaer if he let him stay on any longer.
“His body language there is horrendous,” said Ferdinand on BT Sport 2 on Wednesday [08:54pm]. “He doesn’t look like a defender at all, he looks like a midfielder that feels like he shouldn’t be there.
“Him and [Ashley] Young haven’t really got to grips on this right-hand side. Eric Bailly, you would have been negligent to keep him on the pitch if I’m honest.
Ferdinand added: “It’s a blessing that he’s been injured and had to come off.”
OPINION
Solskjaer made a massive mistake by naming Bailly to start at right-back. A lot of fans assumed that Man United were lining up with a back-three and Young as the right wing-back, however Bailly was in fact at right-back in a bizarre choice by Solskjaer. It’s a reminder that the Norwegian isn’t a long-term option for Man United. Yes, he has done superbly since replacing Jose Mourinho in the hotseat at Old Trafford, but there tends to be a bounce when a manager leaves. Mourinho made the dressing room at Old Trafford toxic with his poor man management and scathing assessment of his players to the press. Man United’s players would have played well for whoever replaced Mourinho. Solskjaer failed at Cardiff and he has been managing in Norway for a reason. He is a Man United legend and it would be a shame if he overstays his welcome at the club and tarnishes his reputation.