Phil Jones has penned an open letter to Manchester United fans as he prepares to call end to his 12-year stint with the Red Devils.
On Friday, the club confirmed that Jones – their longest serving player at this point – will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season after a number of injury struggles.
The former England international played at United for over a decade, making 229 appearances since joining the fold from his boyhood club Blackburn Rovers in 2011.
It’s been a rollercoaster journey for the central defender, who admitted that he could not even speak to his Man United team-mates, after concerns he was ‘letting people down’.
In an emotional letter, Jones wrote: ‘I thought about how best to present my words to everyone and felt that wanted to talk direct to the fans who have supported me throughout my time at Manchester United.
Phil Jones wrote an open letter to Manchester United fans after his exit was confirmed
The defender claimed that he did ‘everything’ in order to combat his injury struggles at United
‘It’s always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow.
‘My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. When I decided to leave Blackburn, always wanted to prove myself further. I’d represented my boyhood club, and lived a dream, but I was desperate to show everyone what I could do at the highest level.
‘To wear this shirt just once, to wear this badge and represent everyone associated with it, was an honour’.
After initially thriving at United, under the careful guise of Sir Alex Ferguson, the second half of his stint at Old Trafford has been marred by injury issues.
The 31-year-old former England defender has played just five times in the last three-and-a-half years due to chronic knee trouble.
He vows he did ‘everything’ to battle the injury, but said that the advice from the medical team was not enough to bring him back to full fitness.
‘I wish I could have played more,’ Jones revealed. ‘I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside. I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me.
Jones left a holiday after receiving a call from Sir Alex Ferguson to bring him to the club
The centre-back opened up on the struggles he faced in a vain attempt to return to full fitness
‘I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and representing Manchester United on the pitch. I spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to.
‘I’ve said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates, I was hurt that I couldn’t help them. I was hurt that my family couldn’t see me on the matchdays, you feel like you’re letting people down.
He also wished the best of luck to Erik ten Hag and the rest of the staff at the club, believing that the Dutchman is ‘building something here’, and he’ll be watching the progress keenly.
Jones rounded off his letter saying: ‘I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me at Manchester United, where I’ve made friends for life.
‘But, most of all, my family, who stuck by me through everything. The biggest one to my wife and two beautiful girls. I cannot put into words the support you’ve given me. We’ve stuck together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.’
Manchester United confirmed Jones will take time to consider his next move after 12 years
United confirmed that Jones will take time out to consider his next move, whether that is retirement, or another club challenge.
During his time at Old Trafford, Jones won a Premier League, an FA Cup and a Europa League title. He also won two Community Shields with the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s season rounds off with four matches, beginning with their trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Home games against Chelsea and Fulham complete the Premier League season before their FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City at Wembley on June 3.
PHIL’S OPEN LETTER IN FULL
‘I thought about how best to present my words to everyone and felt that I wanted to reach the fans who have supported me throughout my time at Manchester United.
‘It’s always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow.
‘My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. When I decided to leave Blackburn, I always wanted to prove myself further. I’d represented my boyhood club, and lived a dream, but I was desperate to show everyone what I could do at the highest level.
‘I had this hunger inside me and I was desperate to continue that at a club that could challenge for everything. I had offers from a few clubs but I was waiting and waiting for the call from United. One day, on holiday, the phone rang from Sir Alex.
‘I left my holiday that day, I couldn’t wait to meet him. I couldn’t wait to sign and, most of all, I couldn’t wait to get started. There was only one club where I wanted to continue my journey in the game.
‘To wear this shirt just once, to wear this badge and represent everyone associated with it, was an honour.
‘I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside. I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me.
‘I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and representing Manchester United on the pitch. I spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to.
‘I’ve said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates, I was hurt that I couldn’t help them. I was hurt that my family couldn’t see me on the matchdays, you feel like you’re letting people down.
‘Sometimes, in life, things happen that we don’t like, but we have to learn to accept it and be at peace in our minds that we did everything we could to overcome the challenges. In your career, and life, that’s all we can really do.
‘The road can be rocky and throw you off track. It’s about getting up from setbacks and keeping going. This is a lesson I’ll push into my next challenges, for whatever lies ahead.
‘I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.
‘It’s not a time to be sad, it’s a time to look back, for me and my family, and be happy that I managed to live a dream at United. I can always say to my family and friends that not many people get to play for this club, to always be in its history and to be able to look back with such happy memories.
‘I wish Erik [ten Hag] and his staff, all the players, the best of luck for the future. He’s building something here and I’ll be watching, supporting and hoping, more than anyone, that he can continue the progress we can all see already.
‘I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me at Manchester United, where I’ve made friends for life.
‘But, most of all, my family, who stuck by me through everything. The biggest one to my wife and two beautiful girls, I cannot put into words the support you’ve given me. We’ve stuck together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.’
– Phil Jones
Source: dailymail.co.uk
