Phil Jones makes brutal admission about Man Utd exit and details future plans

Phil Jones suffered a difficult career at Manchester United that was blighted by constant injury problems – but now the former defender is looking ahead to a more positive future as a manager

Phil Jones felt the harsh reality when he had to leave the WhatsApp groups. That is when it really dawned on him that his playing career for Manchester United and England had come to an end. It was so brutal at first he could not even watch a game of football.

Jones, now 33 and hoping to move into a managerial career, went to two World Cups, won a Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League during 12 injury ravaged years at Old Trafford.

But the joy of playing and determination to win never left him and that was why it was so tough when he had to say goodbye to teammates after finally announcing his retirement last summer.

Jones recalled: “Believe it or not, it was quite an emotional, the most simple thing. You’ve been on the WhatsApp for years and banter and you’re sending people pictures and all sorts. You press guys would’ve a field day!

READ MORE: Man Utd already have ready-made Ayden Heaven replacement that Ruben Amorim lovesREAD MORE: Man Utd star vents frustration over Erik ten Hag sacking and gives Ruben Amorim verdict

“I remember sitting in the bedroom going like: ‘Lads, it’s been a pleasure and blah, blah, blah. And some have played with a lot, some have only just met, but it’s been an absolute pleasure. I wish you all the best and I’ll be your biggest supporters.’ And yeah, it was a tough moment actually.

“Then you take yourself off. I mean it’s Phil Jones has left. You’ve got to give yourself ten minutes after you do it just to see the responses. Do you know what? I gave it a minute and there was no response to that. ‘God, God, no one cares.’ But that’s it. It’s football. Things move so quick and people come in. I played with people for six years, I’ll never see ’em again. I’ll never speak to them.

“It was tough. I mean, I couldn’t watch a game of football. I’ve never been that guy. I consider myself to be very humble and I’m not changed since I was a kid. But to watch a game of football straight after, I would look at games and think: ‘I can do that. I’m better than that.’

“And I found myself getting really bitter towards the game and that’s not who I was, but I needed that time to reflect and come to terms with what happened and how it happened. But yeah, I look back with now, I’m in a great place. I know exactly what I want to do, where I want to be.”

That place is on the road to being a manager. He is taking his UEFA Pro Licence exam and has already done some coaching at United’s academy. Jones knows what it takes to have to shoulder high expectations. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said he could be one of United’s all-time greats. Sir Bobby Charlton made a comparison to Duncan Edwards. Ultimately, those comparisons were a burden on a player who felt like he was constantly battling injuries or coming back from another setback.

Jones lamented: “What was my worst moment? I think after I had a micro fracture in my knee, so it’s like you’re out for ten months. And then I was so happy to get the surgery because I thought it was putting this to bed. And I think when I got back on the grass and started to pass the ball again, I was like: ‘Yeah, this ain’t worked. This is not what I was expecting.’ “People say you have to play with a little bit of pain. But this wasn’t a little bit of pain. This was pain which needed a couple of injections to play.

“But then you look back on your time as a player and remember what you actually did. Then people stop you in the street and say: ‘I remember that game in the Bernabeu against Ronaldo.’ Oh yeah, I did alright in that game. But if you’d me six months earlier I couldn’t have even spoken about it.”

Jones now has a vision of being a manager within five years and it feels like his love for the game has never been stronger.

He added: “I want to be the guy taking the team. I want to be the guy making the decisions and having support and backing from the club and the owners and choosing that right moment to step in at that time. I think if you get offered something you can’t turn and it can’t turn it down, then you go with it. But I think initially I think going in as a coach, then I can only learn from the management and see a pathway progression where I can develop and get better.”

Jones also admits it is “really tough” to watch his former teammates struggle at Old Trafford. Jones has warned that it is win-or-bust for United in the Europa League because they have to get a passport back into the Champions League next season.

United still find themselves in the lower half of the Premier League table despite back-to-back wins over Leicester and also Real Sociedad to reach the quarter finals of the Europa League.

Ex-England star Jones said: “Listen, they’re going through a really tough time. There’s no getting away from, there’s no hiding. The fact that it’s been a really, really tough year. A lot of changes, personnel with current players with the staff. Obviously they want to be in the Champions League, but it’s the one they find themselves in. It’s the one they’ve got to take seriously and try and get through to the final win it. They’ve got to win it.

“Listen, looking back as a player, it’s really difficult because a lot of my friends are still there and I speak to a lot of them still and it’s never nice watching your friends go through a tough time, whatever field you are in. So listen, I hope they can turn it around. I hope that the new manager can enforce his ideas onto the squad and maybe you get some reinforcements in the summer and we can have a better season last, but we’ve got to finish this season strong.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.