Jose Mourinho rues loss of 'naive' Manchester United defender Eric Bailly for Europa League final

Manchester United will be without influential defender Eric Bailly as they attempt to seal a maiden Europa League triumph and simultaneously secure their place back on the Champions League gravy train against Ajax later this month.

Bailly produced another excellent display during Thursday night's (11 May) 1-1 semi-final second-leg draw against Celta Vigo at Old Trafford, but, along with Os Celestes goalscorer Facundo Roncaglia, was shown a straight red card by referee Ovidiu Hategan during an ugly mass brawl involving both sets of players that took place during an explosive finish to an otherwise comfortable evening for the hosts.

The Ivorian defender appeared to push striker John Guidetti in the face and will now be forced to sit out the final in Stockholm on 24 May as he serves a three-match European suspension.

"I didn't see the incident," United boss Mourinho said in his post-match interview with BT Sport. "He [Bailly] was phenomenal.

"The game was emotional until the end for everyone, some kept their control in a better way than others. Roncaglia is not new in these kinds of situations and probably Eric was a bit naive."

When told that it was actually Guidetti that went down before Roncaglia was also sent for an early bath, he added: "I really didn't see the incident. I just know that if that's the case, we lose a very important player for the final. And we don't have many."

Mourinho acknowledged that his side were not at their best again at home after wasting several chances to finish the tie in Galicia last week. However, he nevertheless praised his players' work ethic amid a gruelling campaign that has taken in trips to Rotterdam, Istanbul, Odessa, Saint-Etienne, Rostov and Brussels.

"I could guess after the first match [that it was going to be nervy right until the last kick], because it was similar to Anderlecht. You are the best team by far in the first leg, you have to kill everything in the first leg.

"We don't because we never kill, we never score. We never score goals related to the chances we have and then we've got an open game at home with all of the pressure on our side, with them completely free of any kind of pressure and responsibility.

"And they gave us a very hard match. We had to suffer until the end and everything was open until the last second. The boys, they didn't play a phenomenal match, but they fought and gave everything they had to give. I'm really pleased for them because 14 matches and we are in the final."

Mourinho boasts a 100% record from six previous meetings with Ajax across his illustrious managerial career, although he insists that counts for nothing this time around.