Phil Jones Reflects on Heated Rangnick Incident

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones revealed his intense frustration and humiliation following a controversial decision by then-manager Ralf Rangnick during a match against Liverpool in April 2022. Jones, who had recently returned from a long injury layoff, was substituted at half-time while the team was trailing 2-0, a move he felt unfairly singled him out as a scapegoat. In a candid discussion on the High Performance Podcast, he admitted that this was the only time in his career he truly 'lost it' in the dressing room, expressing his anger by slamming his boots and feeling humiliated in front of family and fans. Despite acknowledging that the team was not performing well, Jones believed he had done enough not to deserve being taken off, stating he had not given the ball away during the match. He later expressed regret over his outburst but noted that emotions had overwhelmed him at that moment. Jones, who retired in 2023 after a 12-year career at United, is now pursuing coaching and has taken roles with the club's youth teams.