Eric Bailly has hit back at Gary Neville after the Manchester United legend’s recent criticism of the defender.

Neville tore into the Ivory Coast international in the wake of the Red Devils’ surprise 3-2 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League last weekend.

That defeat left Manchester United with just three points from their opening Premier League games and means that they have already fallen behind the pack in the race for the title.

Bailly will be hoping to produce some more assured displays for the Red Devils in the coming weeks and months as he bids to try and help Manchester United to challenge for the title.

And the defender has admitted that he was disappointed by the criticism from the Sky Sports pundit in the wake of Sunday’s defeat.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Bailly said: “I think the criticism was a bit harsh, particularly from people who have played the game and have probably made mistakes themselves during their career.

“As young players, we need support from these people. If we got more support from these people, that can help us. But negative comments all of the time doesn’t help the young players or the team.

“It was not just one individual performance on Sunday. It was the whole team that struggled.

“But it was just one battle lost, not the whole war. But it’s one game. We cannot forget that. We shouldn’t just focus on the negative, build on the positive and starting with Tottenham on Monday.”

Manchester United will aim to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Monday night.

The Red Devils finished in second place in the Premier League table and without a trophy last season in what was Jose Mourinho’s second campaign in charge of the Red Devils.

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