Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero for Manchester United in their 2-2 draw against Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Eric Bailly's performance in Italy didn't go under the radar.Many United supporters were full of praise for the centre-back, making just his second start of the season, after his standout display."Bailly has been brilliant," one fan wrote. "He 100% deserves to start more."Another added: "A real defender who puts his body on the line. Ronaldo may grab the headlines but Eric Bailly is the man of the moment."
Bailly was excellent vs Atalanta
Bailly was standing in for the injured Victor Lindelof but he's now given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a selection headache going forwards.
The 27-year-old is prone to the occasional lapse in concentration but when he's on it, he can be a very good defender.
His brave block to prevent Duvan Zapata from making it 2-0 to Atalanta in the first half was an example of the type of defending that United's other centre-backs might not be capable of.
Bailly's reaction to Ronaldo goal
And it's not just his athleticism and bravery that stands out, but his enthusiasm, too.
The Ivorian is a real character, and that much was evident with his reaction to Ronaldo's late strike against Atalanta.
Bailly ran up to Ronaldo and hugged him for an eternity, refusing to let United's saviour go.
In that moment, he was every single United supporter.
Lindelof picked up a minor knock in training before the trip to Atalanta and it's not yet clear whether he will be fit to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Raphael Varane also suffered an injury that forced him off in the first half of Tuesday's draw.
But if they are not ready to go, Bailly has proved that he's more than ready to step up.
