Jose Mourinho has signed three top-notch players as of now. One of them is Eric Bailly; the 22-year-old defender from Ivory Coast. He became Mourinho’s first signing as he completed his move from Villarreal on a four-year contract last month. The 22-year-old is somewhat of an unknown player with many fans in the UK, but the Portuguese boss knows all about his abilities, though, then he accepts his new signing might take time to adapt at the new club.

“He is a player who we believe has all the attributes. He is very strong physically and very fast. It’s not so easy to find a fast player when you have quite a big body; he’s a heavy guy, a tall boy who’s really fast.” Mourinho said in an exclusive interview with MUTV.

The defence in particular was the worst functioning part of the team under Louis van Gaal. United have made a brilliant decision by signing Bailly in those terms. Hopefully, we will be seeing a lesser number of defensive errors.

With that being said, Mourinho will be lucky to have players returning from injury and also some young guns to make use of at the right time.

Let’s look at the possible main defensive line-up under Mourinho:

1. Matteo Darmian (Right-Back)

   

The Italian footballer had an average season under Louis Van Gaal and has not quite succeeded being a fan favourite in general. Darmian has good pace and a long lasting composure which gives him an edge over most of the other defenders. Also, he still has lots of potential which Jose wouldn’t mind checking out.

2. Chris Smalling (Centre-Back)

Smalling has developed greatly in the last couple of years, and has earned his place as the main defender of the team. He played almost every match last season and is currently in a good form. Smalling’s improvement has been one of the success stories of the Van Gaal’s time in charge at United. Injuries and errors marked his early years at the club and there was a foolish red card in the derby against Manchester City. But he has emerged as a key figure.

3. Eric Bailly (Centre-Back)

Bailly’s rise shows no signs of slowing, with the 22-year-old having now put pen to paper at Manchester United. His strong, quick and good in the air ability makes him perfectly prepared for the demands of the Premier League. He is expert at using his body to shield the ball away from danger and his speed confirms he can make powerful recovery tackles when required.

4. Luke Shaw (Left-Back)

Shaw had a great season till the time he was fit and playing. His injury marked the time when things started to go downhill for Manchester United. His contribution in the left flank was considerable and he never failed to complete his defensive duties. His return to the team would mean a lot a lot. The fans and the new manager will be looking to get the same energy and dedication he had earlier before his injury.