Jones: I Just Love To Defend

The sight of Phil Jones launching himself at a header, hurling his body in front of a shot or steaming into a tackle has been one to behold for Manchester United supporters this season.

The 24-year-old defender has been a revelation since returning from a lengthy injury-enforced absence on 6 November and has already registered 14 appearances this season, which is encouragingly one more than he managed throughout the entire 2015/16 campaign. Make no mistake, he is now an important member of Jose Mourinho’s team and one whose contribution to the cause is vital.

Inside United magazine recently caught up with Jones at the Aon Training Complex and among the discussion points were his highly successful return to action, his relationship with the manager, training against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, of course, the pride he takes in the noble pursuit of defending.

Asked if the contribution of defenders can be overlooked in modern football, Jones says:  “As defenders, we don’t care. I just love to defend! I want to stop goals going in the net. I want to give David De Gea fewer saves to make, or have him not need to make any in the whole game. I think we’re getting better.
 
"When we’re defending as a team, we’re doing better and ultimately we need to keep improving. If we make an important block, it can be like a goal. It’s the striker’s job to put the ball in the net and it’s up to us to make important tackles and blocks.”

Jones has built up a solid partnership with Marcos Rojo at centre-back after the pair missed the start of the season through injury. The England international believes both of them have benefited from coming into the team in the same way, while Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly were absent.

“Yeah I think so,” Phil explains. “We were both in the same position, which probably helped us a little bit. But football is a strange game, you can be in one minute and out the next. You have to make sure every time you put that shirt on you produce a performance that warrants you putting that shirt on in the next game. That’s what I’m trying to do and will try to keep doing going forward.”

That desire to maintain his impressive form and retain a place in the team is also fundamental to Jones’s relationship with Mourinho, who is regularly dispensing praise in his direction. “It’s been brilliant,” he says. “He’s shown a lot of confidence and belief in me and hopefully I’m repaying that.

“It’s always nice to share comments from the manager and other people that you’re doing well. I’m not under any illusions, though. In this game you can be up there one minute and down the next, so I need to keep going and keep improving.”