'I retired early at Man Utd under Erik ten Hag – I refused to watch games for months'

One Manchester United subordinate spent astir 2 years retired of enactment earlier yet calling clip connected his vocation and has present revealed helium couldn't ticker games for months aft his retirement

Ex-Manchester United prima Phil Jones has opened up astir his conflict to adjacent ticker shot aft accepting his playing days were over.

The retired footballer - who made 229 appearances for United implicit a 12-year span - spent astir 2 years sidelined owed to wounded earlier launching a comeback successful 2022. Despite his hopes of returning to prominence nether Erik 10 Hag, Jones' hopes were shattered erstwhile helium discovered the symptom of what would beryllium his last grooming league with the squad.

Jones has revealed however helium entered the 2022/23 pre-season afloat intending to beryllium portion of Ten Hag's plans - but his aspirations were abruptly halted aft rejoining the remainder of the team. And it near him with a consciousness of bitterness astir the sport, adjacent struggling to ticker matches successful his spare clip portion helium grieved the extremity of his ain career.

"After I finished.. it took maine a portion to ticker football, due to the fact that I'd beryllium bitter astir it," helium told the High Performance Podcast (via the Manchester Evening News). "I'd look astatine games - and I'm not conscionable talking astir United - I'd look astatine games astir the world and think, 'I'm amended than that.'

'Like, 'People are raving astir him? I cognize I was amended than that.' But I couldn't amusement it. I conscionable couldn't amusement capable of it. And I couldn't ticker football. For 3 oregon 4 months, I didn't ticker football. Your mates would travel astir to the house, and I'd beryllium like, 'Don't power the shot on. I'm not interested.'"

After spending Ten Hag's debut play connected United's books but not named successful the squad, Jones was yet released successful 2023. It wasn't until 12 months aboriginal that helium officially confirmed his retirement, but Jones' comments suggest helium knew for immoderate clip anterior to that helium wouldn't play again.

It's not uncommon for nonrecreational athletes to conflict with the transitional signifier that comes aft calling clip connected one's career. But Jones was peculiarly forlorn fixed the last years of his ain clip successful the spotlight had been ruined by lack and injury.

"I ever consciousness similar erstwhile you accidental you've retired, it's like, 'Oh right, that's it. Finished, done. See you later, acknowledgment for coming,'" helium said portion detailing his affectional past time successful training. "[But] it's not similar that for me, I've inactive got truthful overmuch to give. But it was a relief. Honestly, it was a relief. I got successful the car, and I retrieve being successful tears connected the mode [home]. And I walked into the door, and my wife. . .she conscionable knew."

Since hanging up his boots, the erstwhile Premier League and FA Cup champion has delved further into coaching and is moving towards his pro badges. And he's already winning silverware portion urging connected the adjacent procreation aft helium coached United Under-18s broadside to the Premier League National rubric earlier this year.

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