I can’t continue to keep quiet about this.I knew I wanted to leave Manchester United after just 20 minutes under Erik ten Hag. I immediately knew he didn’t have any vision for the team. I regret joining Manchester United because I’m being labeled a flop but they don’t know if it’s because of the bad manager”

Phil Jones, a former Manchester United player, made the decision to leave the club after just one training session under Erik ten Hag.
Jones, who spent 12 years at Old Trafford, realized he needed to walk away after only 20 minutes of his first session with the new manager. Having struggled with a long-term knee injury that kept him out of action during Ten Hag’s debut season, Jones had worked hard to return to fitness for the 2022/23 season. However, he quickly came to the conclusion that he could no longer meet the physical demands required for professional football.
During an episode of the High Performance podcast, Jones opened up about the experience. “I came back on the first day, really excited about starting fresh with Erik ten Hag. I had my boots on, eager to get going. I felt my knee acting up, but I figured it would improve. We were just doing a basic drill—passing the ball into the net and jogging around cones as part of a warm-up,” he explained.
He continued, “But I couldn’t even pass the ball with my right foot. I felt so embarrassed, especially with a new manager watching. I barely lasted 20 minutes. I somehow made it through by using my left foot, which had become stronger due to the injury forcing me to adapt. But when I tried to sprint, my knee gave out. That’s when I knew I couldn’t keep going.”

Jones went on to recall how he approached the physio and told them, “This is my last training session.” And, as he shared, it indeed turned out to be his final one.

Since then, Jones has not returned to the pitch and has shifted his focus toward coaching. He has also made occasional appearances as a football pundit, including on Match of the Day.
Phil Jones’ decision to leave Manchester United after just one training session under Erik ten Hag marked the end of his 12-year career at Old Trafford. Struggling with a persistent knee injury that had sidelined him during Ten Hag’s first season, Jones had hoped to make a fresh start. However, during a simple warm-up drill on his first day back, he quickly realized his body could no longer handle the physical demands of professional football. He described the moment in detail on the *High Performance* podcast, explaining that he couldn’t pass the ball properly and felt embarrassed with Ten Hag watching.

Despite pushing through the drill using his left foot, which had become stronger due to the injury, Jones’ knee gave out when he attempted to sprint. At that moment, he knew his playing career was over. He approached the physio and informed them that it would be his last session. Since then, Jones has shifted his focus to coaching and has also appeared as a football pundit. His story highlights the tough physical and emotional toll injuries can take on professional athletes, and his move toward coaching indicates a new chapter in his football journey.