BREAKING NEWS: Fans are shocked as Ralf Ragnick exposes the players he wanted to self which the club refused to listen and kicked his a*ss instead.
Phil Jones has opened up about one of the most frustrating moments of his career, recalling how he felt utterly disrespected when interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick took him off at halftime during their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in April 2022. The former defender, who rarely featured due to persistent injuries, was handed a rare start in the crucial clash. However, with United trailing 2-0 at halftime, Rangnick made the call to replace Jones with Jadon Sancho, a decision that caught both the player and his teammates off guard.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Jones described his shock and anger at the substitution. He recounted how Rangnick announced the change, and the entire dressing room reacted with disbelief. In that moment, frustration boiled over for the defender, who admitted that he had never lost his temper in a dressing room before. He slammed his boots on the floor and accused the manager of mocking him. The humiliation of being taken off in such a high-profile match, in front of a fierce rival crowd, his teammates, and even his family, was difficult to bear.
Jones believed he had performed well given the circumstances and was unfairly singled out. According to him, United’s struggles that night extended far beyond his individual performance. While he acknowledged he was not exceptional, he felt he had been composed under pressure and had not made any major mistakes. In his view, other players had fared much worse, yet he was the one sacrificed. The decision left him feeling like an easy target, a scapegoat for a team-wide failure.
That match at Anfield marked one of the last times Jones would wear a Manchester United shirt. He went on to make his 229th and final appearance for the club in a victory over Brentford, but injuries continued to plague him. He missed the entire 2022/23 season before ultimately announcing his retirement from professional football. While disappointed with how his time at United ended, he remains proud of his resilience throughout a career filled with challenges. His story serves as a testament to the harsh realities of football at the highest level, where setbacks—both physical and mental—can define a player’s journey.
