Why Phil Jones is hurting Man Utd

At Manchester United you have to watch what you say. It’s a lesson young Phil Jones is going to have to learn the hard way.

Midway through the season Jones is alleged to have said something to the effect of he has nothing to prove to anyone.

That was just before the Athletic Bilbao game.

It raised the eyebrows of a lot of people. Most noticeably, former United star and captain Roy Keane.

Keane publicly questioned the commitment and attitude of this emerging squad leading to a public rebuke from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Now, following Monday's derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium, a match billed as the biggest derby in the history of English football, Jones has spoken again.

And it is not the talk some Reds would want to hear.

"But make no mistake about it: we are level on points with City. Goal difference separates us at the moment and you've seen already this season that there have been so many twists and turns.

“Don't be surprised if you see a few more. I think it will go down to the wire. We know what we have to do: win the two games, take six points and see where that takes us,” Jones told Manutd.com.

The twists and turns need not have been there. Perhaps the young squad needs to take their cue from Sir Alex, who has been scathing in his appraisal of the situation.

"There have obviously been a lot of questions raised this week, and rightly so," Jones said. "We probably didn't play the best we could have on Monday and it is disappointing.

"Obviously the day after the derby the lads were gutted and massively disappointed. But we have moved on quickly and pushed it to one side.

“We have put it right in training this week. There are still a lot of bubbly characters about and we are looking forward to the game at the weekend."

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