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"Hero," Jose Mourinho bellowed. It wasn't quite sufficient. "Incredible," he responded to a more specific question. Manchester United Photoshoppers are yet to mock up Eric Bailly in a Mr. Incredible super suit, though.

On a day Anthony Martial had Gary Neville cooing about a goal which was 'far more like Manchester United have always played' Bailly was arguably the outstanding performer, and it was particularly reassuring for Mourinho to see the 23-year-old play so indomitably as the only senior specialist centre-back remaining.

Bailly and Marcos Rojo had struck up a near-impregnable partnership in April, conceding two goals in five matches before Rojo suffered the wincing injury all footballers fear the most on Thursday. The axis was cemented with the shackling of the pesky Diego Costa and the snapshot of Bailly, on his knees' and cradled by Rojo, was one of the most celebrated from the Chelsea triumph.

"This victory is for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo," Bailly tweeted after Sunday's win. "Stay strong guys!" Fluent in French and Spanish, it is easy to see why Bailly has settled in so seamlessly since his eyebrow-raising £30million transfer from Villarreal.

Bailly is now doing what Ander Herrera has done all season ahead of him. Herrera is the prototype Mourinho midfielder and Bailly symbolises that role for the centre halves. They have set the benchmark for present and former teammates and are indispensable as Mourinho attempts to assemble a title-winning side.

Bailly relishes physical duels and is not averse to stooping to Costa's Widow Twankey theatrics. He also possesses the athleticism to vie with nimbler forwards.

It is disingenuous to compare Bailly with Nemanja Vidic, one of his chief trumpeters. "I am a defender; I don’t have skills!" Vidic once joked. He struggled to pass water at United, whereas Bailly possesses a mixture of steel and silk which Sir Alex Ferguson built his best defences around.

Bailly and Rojo are certain United squad members next season and Phil Jones' chances are auspicious, in spite of his second touch still tending to be an injury. Jones has improved this season and drew praise for volunteering to play for the first time in 10 months at Swansea in November.

"Phil Jones was a brave guy to say: 'I am ready. I am ready for the team'," Mourinho said at the Liberty Stadium. "When he wasn't ready because, after two or three months without kicking a ball, he was ready only in the mind. But in the mind is where it matters and he had a great performance."

That Swansea victory could have had a significant impact on the future of United's defence. Three days earlier, Mourinho had lamented his options at centre half as United lost to Fenerbahce in Istanbul with Rojo and Daley Blind starting there.

"We are playing with two left-backs in the centre," he complained. "They try their best. For Daley it is even more difficult to play as a central defender on the right side. It’s completely uncomfortable for him, he cannot even be a good builder of the game, which is one of his good qualities.

"Marcos is trying hard and is fine, but it’s a very important starting point for the stability of the team."

Rojo retained his place at Swansea and it was in the Welsh valleys where his United career took off. He formed a rock-steady partnership with Jones which was only disrupted by the latter's injury against Hull in early February and it says much about his approval rating among United supporters they seem more vexed by his lay-off than Zlatan Ibrahimovic's.

Rojo responded to Mourinho's scepticism and has salvaged his United career less than six months after his manager was willing to jettison him. Blind, however, hasn't. He is the one player who has indisputably suffered from Mourinho's critical candour and he is playing like the auxiliary option his manager suggested he is.

Now Louis van Gaal is no longer there to shield Blind, his form has dwindled and it said much about his struggles that Andre Gray preyed on him at Turf Moor on Sunday. It might seem churlish to single out a United defender after they prevented the opposition from having an attempt on target but that was partly due to Bailly bailing out Blind with two expert interventions in each half.

Blind's finest performance as a central defender last season was arguably against Romelu Lukaku, a superior striker than Gray but one with similar attributes. He is aware his manager does not rate him as a centre half and has not displayed the gumption to defy him like Rojo did. Six United players have responded to Mourinho's public rebukes this month alone.

Blind's regular parter last season - Chris Smalling - has regressed and is in similar jeopardy to the Dutchman, who is at least guaranteed playing time amid the defensive injury crisis.

United are scouring the continent for a new centre half and whoever arrives will be bought with a view to complementing the brilliant Bailly.

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