Phil Jones slammed a fan who claimed his career was a "shame" as the former centre back launched a scathing attack to defend his Old Trafford legacy.
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Jones spent 12 years at UnitedRacked up 229 appearances across competitionsWon five major honours including a PL titleWHAT HAPPENED?
After signing for Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the centre-back was initially hailed as one of the most promising young defenders in English football. Unfortunately, recurring injuries hampered his progress, restricting him to only 13 appearances over his last four seasons with the Red Devils.
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In the twilight of his career, Jones often faced ridicule from fans for his dismal injury record. His past achievements drowned into oblivion as the defender struggled to secure a squad berth at Old Trafford and subsequently settled into a premature retirement.
WHAT JONES SAID ABOUT HIS CAREER
Jones recently opened up about his career in a candid discussion on the podcast, where he recalled an interaction with a fan who described his career as a "shame".
"Someone said to me, ‘Oh, it’s a shame about your career, Phil, but it’s lovely to meet you,’" Jones recounted during the interview. "I said, 'You what? What do you mean?' I’ve been at United for 10 years, won the Premier League, played over 200 games for United, played in two World Cups, won the Europa League and FA Cup, and you’re trying to tell me it was a shame?"
Jones used the moment to assert his pride in his time as a professional footballer. “That was me standing up for myself and having respect for myself, saying, ‘No, this stops now.’ I’ll tell you how my career went. Of course, I would’ve liked to play more, but I’ve lived the dream. 99% of people would snap their right hand off now for their kids to come through and have the career I had,” he explained.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jones made 229 appearances for United during his stay at Old Trafford. He won five major trophies, including a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a Europa League title and two FA Community Shields.