“I know the problem and I tried to warn Erik ten Hag as the new Head coach but he thought he knew everything. They where simply the people, especially one player. I was so tired of him but the fans loved him the most. He was the reason the club didn’t listen to me because I wanted him sold”-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 Reflects on Ralf Rangnick’s Halftime Substitution at Anfield: “I Was Furious”

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has spoken out about one of the lowest points of his career, revealing how he felt deeply embarrassed when interim manager Ralf Rangnick substituted him at halftime during United’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in April 2022.

Rangnick, who led United for a short stint, made the unexpected decision to withdraw Jones at the break—a move that stunned both the player and the dressing room.

A Shocking Decision

Jones had been given a rare start in that highly anticipated clash, marking only his second appearance of the season after struggling with injuries. But with United trailing 2-0 at halftime, Rangnick opted to replace him with Jadon Sancho, a decision that caught everyone off guard.

Recalling the moment on the High Performance Podcast, Jones described his disbelief:

“At halftime, Ralf walked in and said, ‘I’m making a change—Phil, you’re coming off.’ The whole dressing room just froze. Everyone had that look of shock, like, ‘Why is he taking Phil off?’ I could tell they were as confused as I was. I took off my boots, slammed them down, and said, ‘You’re taking the p** out of me.’”*

The former England international admitted that this was the first and only time he had ever lost his temper in the dressing room.

“I’ve never lost my head in a dressing room before, but that was the moment I completely snapped. To be humiliated like that, in front of an Anfield crowd, against our fiercest rivals, with my family and teammates watching—it was crushing.”

Feeling Like a Scapegoat

Jones, whose career was plagued by injuries, believed he was unfairly targeted despite putting in a decent performance.

“We were 2-0 down, and nothing was working for the team. But I was actually playing fine. I didn’t misplace passes, I stayed composed under pressure. I wasn’t outstanding, but I certainly didn’t deserve to be the one taken off. There were players on the pitch having a far worse game. I felt like the easy scapegoat.”

The Final Chapter

Jones went on to play his last game for United in a 3-0 victory over Brentford, bringing his total appearances for the club to 229. Unfortunately, injuries kept him sidelined for the entire 2022/23 season, and he eventually left the club before officially retiring from professional football.

Reflecting on his time at United, Jones acknowledged his frustrations but also took pride in his perseverance. His story is a testament to the struggles players face behind the scenes, both mentally and physically, in the world of elite football.

Phil Jones’ experience at Anfield was just one of many tough moments in his career, but it was undoubtedly one of the most humiliating. His anger is understandable—United’s problems that night ran far deeper than just one player.

The fact that his teammates reacted with shock says a lot. Even they didn’t expect the decision, which raises further questions about Rangnick’s tactics during his time at the club.

Was Jones unfairly blamed, or was Rangnick simply making a desperate tactical adjustment?