Former Manchester United Player Phil Jones Admitted That His Physical Injuries Made Him Mentally Weak

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has spoken out about the abuse he faced from trolls. Jones retired from football in 2023 and aimed to build a management career. 

His time with the Red Devils was complicated due to constant trolling on social media for being injury-prone. Jones spoke to The Sun about his experiences during his twilight career.

“I’d been through that much trauma mentally,” he said.

“Anybody who tells you that it doesn’t is lying”

Phil Jones further elaborated on the lack of awareness among fans regarding the severity of his injury ordeal, shedding light on the constant battle he faced with his compromised right knee. He disclosed the reliance on painkillers and steroids to manage the excruciating pain, opening up about the stringent measures he had to take. 

Beyond the physical pain, the relentless fitness challenges also intricately intertwined with his mental well-being, leaving a profound impact on his overall health and mindset.

When questioned about how Jones was affected by the terrible abuse and absences, he responded  “Anybody who tells you that it doesn’t is lying. And as footballers, you have to put this mask on. You get paid a lot of money so you are not allowed to have feelings or emotions. The physical injuries made me mentally weak at times.”

“Obviously people will ask, ‘he is always injured?’”

Regarding the criticism Phil Jones endured as a result of his injury absences, he commented “Obviously people will ask, ‘he is always injured?’ as though they think that I wake up one day and think, ‘oh, yeah, I fancy being injured today’. But my coping mechanism was to be silent, put my guard up, my shield up around with my really close family.”

During his time with Blackburn Rovers, Phil Jones suffered a serious injury at just 18 years old when he tore his meniscus. This necessitated immediate surgery, during which the surgeons had to remove part of his meniscus to facilitate his recovery. 

Despite this setback, his talent caught the attention of legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who secured his transfer to Manchester United in 2011. Unfortunately, his injury troubles persisted, resurfacing within a year of joining the new club. 

These persistent knee issues eventually led to Phil Jones’ decision to retire from professional football just last month, marking the end of an illustrious yet injury-plagued career.

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