Eric Bailly named Manchester United captain by Jose Mourinho in U-turn from manager
Ivorian defender took the armband against Real Madrid just days after Jose Mourinho said he's not a leader
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JOSE MOURINHO made an incredible U-turn by naming Eric Bailly as Manchester United captain just days after saying he's not a leader.
The Ivorian defender wore the armband for the 2-1 win over Real Madrid in Miami on Tuesday night.
And that despite Mourinho saying the 24-year-old was not a leader after their 4-1 drubbing by Liverpool on Saturday in Michigan.
After the game against Liverpool, Mourinho said: "I don't think he's a leader.
"I don't think anything goes to change with that.
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"I think he's a team boy, a great boy, and an honest man, honest to put everything for the team and that is why we still have him and why he is going to stay with us.
"Because football teams need people like him and Herrera, these kind of players where the club is more important than anything else.
"Eric Bailly was not going to play (against Liverpool) and when we saw Smalling was leaving in the warm up he decided by himself I don't want another kid on the pitch, is not fair for Alexis, Mata and Herrera and on the other guys that are there.
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"So we are trying to play these matches as best we can and we did until the gasoline lasted. When gasoline finished, goodbye."
Bailly took a nasty shot to the groin when trying to block a cross in the first half against Real Madrid.
But the tough Ivorian battled on after being left in some considerable discomfort and played the full 90 minutes.
The Red Devils won 2-1 thanks to goals from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera, with Karim Benzema pulling one back for the Champions League holders.