Jose Mourinho has tried different options (Getty)

Manchester United’s preferred initial centre-back pairing for the 2017/18 season may surprise many supporters judging by Jose Mourinho’s pre-season team selections.

The obvious duo to marshal the backline is Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof.

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Bailly took no time to settle at Old Trafford following his £30million arrival last summer. The Ivorian immediately established himself as the first-choice option.

In the Premier League he was selected 20 times in central defence, more than any other player. Phil Jones was picked 18 times, Marcos Rojo 17, Chris Smalling 13, Daley Blind 8 and Matteo Darmian once.


Premier League appearances at centre-back in 2016/17 Eric Bailly 20 Phil Jones 18 Marcos Rojo 17 Chris Smalling 13 Daley Blind 8 Matteo Darmian 1

Bailly is Mourinho’s favoured centre-back (Getty)

What is clear from those figures is Mourinho struggled to commit to a regular pairing – signalling he was unconvinced by his options in his first term as Manchester United manager.



So when he went out and signed Lindelof from Benfica for £31m it came as little surprise. For that money, and with Mourinho’s apparent doubts over his existing options, it had been assumed the Sweden international would become Bailly’s regular partner.

Victor Lindelof in pre-season action (Getty)

But Mourinho’s pre-season team selections suggest the Portuguese tactician has other ideas.

The duo were paired together in the second half of Manchester United’s first game of the summer, against LA Galaxy. But since then, Mourinho hasn’t tested them together again.

In the following match Smalling was given an opportunity alongside Bailly – which also hasn’t been tried since.

In the last four games – including today’s match with Valerenga – it has been Phil Jones alongside Bailly.

Here is how we'll line up for the penultimate game of #MUTOUR… ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/u6QOoTG0MA — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 30, 2017

Manchester United's pre-season pairings Vs LA Galaxy First half: Jones / Smalling Second half: Lindelof / Bailly Vs Salt Lake City First half: Lindelof / Jones Second half: Bailly / Smalling Vs Manchester City Lindelof / Smalling Bailly / Jones Vs Real Madrid First half: Bailly / Jones Second half: Lindelof / Smalling Vs Barcelona First half: Smalling / Lindelof Second half: Bailly / Jones Vs Valerenga Eric Bailly / Phil Jones

Mourinho has just one more opportunity to try the pairing most expected to see before the Premier League season begins. That will come against Sampdoria on Wednesday. They also play Real Madrid in the Super Cup before the first match of the new campaign but Bailly is suspended from that game.

It would suggest that Jones – who has impressed during Manchester United’s pre-season – will be the first choice centre-back ahead of Lindelof.

Phil Jones with David De Gea (Getty)

It would be an impressive achievement for Jones who has struggled badly with injuries in recent years. In three of the last five seasons he’s failed to feature in more than half of Manchester United’s league games.

However it will be a worrying indictment on Lindelof. While early days, his appearances in pre-season have caused concern.

Jose Mourinho ahead of today’s match in Norway (Getty)

When Mourinho was questioned why he hadn’t been starting Bailly and Lindelof together following the defeat to Barcelona he offered a confusing response.

‘I think we will understand the reason in a couple of days. Bailly is suspended for the first two matches [in the Super Cup and Champions League], as you know, and I think in the next couple of days we will have the understanding of why I play Lindelof and Smalling.

It’s possible Mourinho is simply keeping his cards close to his chest – but if so it will have been a major risk to have given Bailly and Lindelof just 45 minutes practice together.



We will have a better idea when Mourinho names his team for Manchester United’s Premier League opener against West Ham on August 13.

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