Manchester United defender Eric Bailly ready to follow in the footsteps of legends Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford

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Eric Bailly has turned up with a fresh cut on his knee. Nothing serious. The Ivory Coast defender has suffered far worse in the 14 months since he became Jose Mourinho’s first signing at Manchester United.

Yet somehow the sight of blood is an appropriate image as Bailly perches on the edge of a chair for the next half an hour, head bowed, speaking quietly in Spanish through a translator.

The 23-year-old has come to embody the warrior spirit in Mourinho’s squad. And Mourinho loves his warriors. Think John Terry at Chelsea, Marco Materazzi at Inter Milan and Pepe at Real Madrid.

Eric Bailly has impressed at Manchester United and is a first-team regular at Old Trafford

The centre back has come to embody the warrior spirit in Jose Mourinho’s (pictured) squad

When the United manager was – rightly or wrongly – calling out Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw last season for not toughening up, Bailly was the example he had in mind.

A young man smaller in stature to many of his teammates but big on heart who has done it the hard way on a journey from the streets of Abidjan to the Premier League via a difficult apprenticeship in Spain.

Occasionally it has worked against Bailly. Like the red card for his part in a melee against Celta Vigo in May that cost him a place in the Europa League final triumph over Ajax and UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid last week. The suspension will also keep him out of United’s first game back in the Champions League.

But it was a small price to pay for an outstanding first season at Old Trafford, following a £30million move from Villarreal, in which he quickly established himself as United’s defensive king-pin.

Bailly enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign and will be hoping to maintain that form

The comparisons with combative former Old Trafford captain Nemanja Vidic are well earned.

‘You have to take the example of who has played here, like Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. I have to try to follow in their steps,’ says Bailly.

‘When I came to Manchester, it was a bigger step from when I was in Villarreal. The manager had confidence in me and has brought me as his first signing.

‘But it’s not easy. When you come to the team there are players that have more experience in the English league and I had to see how the football was played.

‘I’ve had the luck to be in a dressing-room that is like family. The majority of players speak French and Spanish, like Ander (Herrera) and Juan (Mata) as well as Paul (Pogba) and (Anthony) Martial.

‘In my first season it was very good for me. We reached the objective which was to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League. Hopefully this season will be even better.’

Bailly is hoping to follow in the footsteps of United legends Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic

It’s more than four years since Vidic lifted the Premier League trophy after United’s last title triumph. The club have gone through three managers and more than £600m on new signings in a vain attempt to win it back.

Another summer of big spending and last weekend’s thumping win over West Ham has raised hopes that Mourinho can do just that. Bailly accepts it is time to deliver.

‘The team has always been at a world-class level, they have just had some bad moments,’ he adds. ‘Now it’s time to give Manchester United its value and that comes with our hard work and all the players that arrive to help the club.

‘We have to get together and make a solid group to start this season. I think that with all the hard work put in, we are going to demonstrate that we are a world-class club again.’

Vidic lifts Premier League trophy after Manchester United's last title victory back in 2013

Bailly’s younger brother Arturo lives with him and his wife Vanessa in Manchester. His older brother Thierry is studying in China, and sister Anna is in Abidjan with their parents.

Eric grew up there but had ended his studies by the age of 14, earning a small wage by minding a phone box and emptying out the change each day.

‘I had a programme after training in the afternoon in which I would go in front of my house to do various things,’ says Bailly, who wanted to be a striker like his Ivory Coast hero Didier Drogba.

‘The phone box was something I did to earn some money and to resolve some of my issues. I cannot always rely on my parents. They’ve always tried to help me but I had to do something to be able to get what I wanted.

‘I’m not going to complain about the life I’ve had so far. In Africa, there are people that live in more difficult situations.

‘I’ve had the luck of having parents that work and have helped me out. They’ve done everything possible for me to get here and I thank God for everything that has happened in my life.

‘My dream was like all the other kids to get to the best possible, which means getting to professional football. I have made that dream come true.’

Bailly's dream to be a professional came true and he is now starring in the heart of the defence

Bailly played for local team Abia Stars before he was spotted by Spanish talent agency Promoesport who took him to Espanyol.

However, the 16-year-old had to wait another two years to play in Spain due to work permit issues. Remarkably, it was the first time he had played competitive 11-a-side football.

‘First, it was very hard leaving the family and the people I was very close to,’ says Bailly. ‘I had a strong mindset to withstand that. It was my dream so I had to accept it and keep moving forward.

‘I’m very grateful to the Spanish club. To save a young kid for two years that didn’t have paperwork was very important for me. It was difficult but you always have to be patient in life.

‘Thanks to God, I was able to start my career there in Europe.’

Bailly looks on during his time at Villarreal after also playing for Espanyol in La Liga

The defender played only one season in La Liga with Espanyol and one more with Villarreal before Mourinho made his move within weeks of taking over at United.

‘I found out when I was in the Ivory Coast,’ says Bailly. ‘I didn’t believe it was true. I thought it was a dream.

‘Afterwards I found out it was true that United were interested in me and that was something big for me. I’m thankful for everything that happened in that moment.’