Manchester United's draw against Celta Vigo came at a cost, on Thursday night.
Jose Mourinho's side must plan for the Europa League Final against Ajax without Eric Bailly. The Ivorian defender was sent off in the final ten minutes of the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Bailly was given a straight red card by referee Ovidiu Hațegan for pushing John Guidetti to the ground. Guidetti held his face, despite what seemed to be minimal contact. Facundo Roncaglia was also sent off, for clashing with Bailly.
While the red card seemed harsh due to Guidetti's reaction, Manchester United will not be able to appeal the red card. Bailly's hopes of playing in the Stockholm final appear to be non-existent.
UEFA rules only allow for appeals in the case of mistaken identity. Bailly was correctly identified by Roncaglia after the scuffle in the final ten minutes.
After the game, Mourinho called Bailly's performance as "phenomenal", but also added he was "naive" for getting sent off.
“Facundo Roncaglia is not new in these situations, Bailly was probably naive. We now lose a very important player for the final, and we don't have many."
Bailly's suspension adds to United's defensive woes ahead of the Final later this month. Marcos Rojo is currently recovering from a long-term injury depriving the side of their first choice defenders.
