Jose Mourinho Dropped Eric Bailly Because His 'Country Is Not in the World Cup'

Manchester United manger Jose Mourinho explained on Friday that Eric Bailly has been dropped for recent games because his "country is not in the World Cup."  

Bailly will not be going to the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer with the Ivory Coast, as they could only finish second to Morocco in Group C of CAF qualifying, so Mourinho wants to give his other centre-backs the best chance of being picked for their national teams.

United's other four centre-backs—English duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, Argentinian Marcos Rojo and Swede Victor Lindelof—could all go to Russia with their respective nations.

Mourinho explained ahead of United's meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday night that he is trying to give the quartet the best chance of selection, which is why Bailly has been sidelined recently—not because he has fallen out of favour, per MailOnline's Chris Wheeler:

"There's no situation. He is fine, no injury. He is one of our five central defenders and, honestly, my work is not about World Cups and preparing players for the World Cup or giving chances to players at the World Cup. 

"But he's the only central defender whose country is not in the World Cup, so if I have to make a kind of more emotional, effective choice to try to help my players, he's the one I'm not going to help until the end of the season.

"Rojo, Lindelof, Jones, Smalling, all of them are wishing to make the squad for the World Cup and Eric is not under that pressure. I try not to (make those sentimental decisions). I try to be a good team manager and that means being a bit cold, a bit selfish. 

"But I'm not as bad as that, and I still have space for a little bit of feelings, so when I look to the other four central defenders fighting for a position in the World Cup I am giving less to Eric."

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Bailly, 24, joined United from Villarreal for £30 million in 2016 and has arguably been the Red Devils' best defender over the past two seasons, although he has suffered regular injury problems.

His lack of game time since United's 3-2 victory over Manchester City on April 7 had prompted reports his Old Trafford future was in jeopardy, with John Cross in the Mirror suggesting the centre-back was worried about his prospects with the FA Cup finalists.

Mourinho's explanation for why he has dropped the defender is likely to reassure United fans, with whom Bailly has become a firm favourite.

United's defence has been excellent this season, with the Red Devils only conceding 27 goals in 35 Premier League matches.

That has largely been in the Ivorian's absence, as he has started only 10 times in the English top flight this term.

However, the Old Trafford outfit look more robust with Bailly in the side, and United fans will hope that, with a full summer off, he can focus on returning to 100 per cent fitness and be more regularly available in 2018-19.