The problem for Jose Mourinho? Bailly's injury means this isn't rock bottom

Anyone who saw their leaden-footed, pedestrian, grindingly uninspired performance against Chelsea on Sunday would struggle to understand how either of them was anywhere near the judges’ consideration. If they are among the 20 best players in the world, God help the rest.

The failure of the two to deliver anything like their potential has been widely reckoned the biggest problem Jose Mourinho has faced since his arrival in Manchester. The common assumption is that had either of them sparked as they should, had Ibrahimovic converted decent chances with the aplomb he demonstrated at PSG, had Pogba dominated possession like he did with Juventus, United would not now be marooned in mid-table.

And yet, for all the evident schadenfreude available in pointing out their culpability (rarely has the chant by rival fans of “what a waste of money” stung quite so forcefully) the lack of delivery by his expensive imports is not the most sizeable issue occupying Mourinho’s in-tray. Nothing like.

Largely because he can quickly and easily do something about it. The United manager this week suggested he was not remotely afraid to drop either player. He has no fear of that sort of thing. After all, when it comes to reputation, his is more elevated than any of the players under his direction. And the point is, were he to drop either or both of his marquee signings, in the hope that they might, away from the immediate pressure, rediscover what it is that put them on the world shortlist in the first place, he has replacements. He could – some United followers might say should – replace Ibrahimovic at centre-forward with Marcus Rashford. Use the youngster where his pace, dynamism and confidence can be best exploited: down the middle, not out on the wing where he can be too often marooned.

Pogba too could be replaced, not least by Michael Carrick. Even more than the ignoring of Henrikh Mkhitarayan, the continuing ostracizing of the veteran midfielder is becoming the most baffling of Mourinho decisions since he took over the club. Carrick is not only a pretty useful player in his own right, but his astute use of the ball and his early forward passes make those in front of him better. That much was only too obvious when he played against Fenerbahce in the Europa League. Sure the Turks were poor, but was what clear was how Carrick brings out the best in team mates. Juan Mata would be a whole lot better as a schemer were he fed by Carrick’s promptings, rather than hanging around hoping that Pogba might one day pass the ball to him.

The point is, when it comes to his midfield and attack Mourinho has other options. Which is not what can be said about his defence. Indeed, far more worrying than any of the other signifiers on show at Stamford Bridge was the sight midway through the second half of Eric Bailly hobbling from the fray with what is said to be serious ligament damage.

If that is the diagnosis, Bailly will be absent for some time. Which means Mourinho has lost the one defender he has of any substance. And it is in defence that the manager faces his most substantial problems. This is where his resources are thin indeed. Worse, those he has are currently doing a very good impression of not being up to the job.

True, Antonio Valencia looked good going forward at Chelsea – as he generally does – his fizzing crosses providing easily the best source of attacking opportunity. Defending is another issue, however. Especially as alongside him Chris Smalling and Daley Blind were giving competing and vivid impressions of a junior Bambi taking his first steps out on to a frozen pond: jittery, nervy, apparently entirely drained of confidence – my were they poor. Blind had started the season well. But what looked like calmness and coherence early on has recently been exposed as lack of pace and surfeit of panic. The Dutchman has been wretched in the last few games, looking a player in urgent need of respite.

What was clear at Chelsea is that Bailly was the only defender in red prepared to take responsibility, the only one whose first instinct is to do it himself, not to hope someone else might sort things out. The Ivorian has been the one unequivocal success of Mourinho’s hugely expensive summer recruitment drive. Powerful, quick and alert, he has settled in with accomplished ease.

Now, with him out, the manager has nowhere to turn. Unlike in midfield or attack, his defensive alternatives are close to zero, especially as he seems to have little faith in Luke Shaw or the foursquare figure of Tim Fosu-Mensah. It means the hopeless Marcos Rojo is likely to play against Manchester City in the EFL Cup. Smalling and Rojo: as legitimate heirs to Bruce and Pallister or Ferdinand and Vidic, this is a centre-back pairing that falls somewhat short.

And how Pep Guardiola must be licking his lips in anticipation of unleashing his forwards on a back line as impoverished as United’s. A manager in need of alleviation from his own mini crisis has just been gifted by Bailly’s horribly untimely injury the most rapid of escape clauses. What better way for Sergio Aguero, for instance, to recover his scoring touch than lining up against his compatriot Rojo, the Argentine accident waiting to happen. 4-0 was bad enough. But watching Bailly hobble down the tunnel, United fans must now be fearing that things are not about to get better at any time soon.