Phil Jones: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends a good professional after criticism

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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit back at ex-teammate Rio Ferdinands’ criticism of defender Phil Jones

The 29-year-old is currently returning from a knee injury and has not played a competitive game for the club since January last year, prompting Ferdinand to accuse him of taking the place of ‘an Academy player.

However, Solskjaer launched a passionate defense of the player having gone through a similar situation himself.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, the United boss said: I know more than anyone what it feels like to be injured at this point.

Since I got here he has been battling that knee injury and he has put his body at risk in every training session, in every game.

There were a few times we had to deal with him, and he never did anything other than give everything for the club. Rio, of all, he should know more than to go out and say this.

Jones, whose last appearance was in a 6-0 FA Cup fourth round victory at Tranmere in which he scored on January 26, 2020, is gradually returning to top form and played in a game at eight closed against Burnley last week.

However, given what he’s been through, Solskjaer isn’t in the mood to push him away.

He said: I didn’t talk too much about Phil’s injury because I more or less protected him. Phils has never been on social media, never asked to do interviews, he’s just got his head down, good, good professional, no fuss, father of a family and just wants to get back in shape.

We managed to have him half an hour against Burnley which was the first half hour against an opponent he played here in training. He works his way.

I was out for two years out of a three year period with a knee injury and Phil fought valiantly, I would say. I know how Phil felt because sometimes you are embarrassed to enter.

But he has to take care of his career and he is now getting back in shape. Now is not the time for me to throw it away because I think if we give it a little more, maybe a month, six weeks behind closed doors, hell is here.

For me, as a manager, to see that he can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s great because I went through the same thing.

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