Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has shared his feelings about one of the most challenging moments of his football career, revealing his frustration and embarrassment over being substituted at half-time by interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The incident occurred during Manchester United’s crushing 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in April 2022, a match that remains a painful memory for both the club and its supporters.
Jones, who had struggled with injuries throughout his later years at United, was given a rare start in this crucial fixture. However, his return to the starting lineup quickly turned into a nightmare when Rangnick decided to take him off after just 45 minutes. Speaking about the substitution, Jones did not hold back in expressing how deeply it affected him. He admitted that he was “absolutely raging” when he realized he would not be returning to the pitch for the second half. The decision, in his view, was both humiliating and frustrating, leaving him furious as he sat on the bench for the remainder of the game.
The match itself was a miserable one for Manchester United. Liverpool dominated proceedings from the start, showcasing their superiority over their bitter rivals. By half-time, United were already trailing, and Rangnick made tactical adjustments in an attempt to salvage something from the game. One of those changes was the removal of Jones, a decision that did not sit well with the defender. For a player who had fought hard to recover from injuries and regain his place in the team, being taken off so early felt like a major personal setback.
Jones’ frustration extended beyond just the moment of substitution. He later reflected on how the decision impacted his confidence and standing within the squad. The dressing room was already tense, given the poor run of form United were experiencing at the time, and Rangnick’s handling of the situation only added to the growing discontent among the players. While Rangnick’s tenure at Old Trafford was brief—managing just 31 matches—the German coach’s decisions were often scrutinized, and this particular substitution became one of the more controversial moments of his time in charge.
For Jones, this experience was another difficult chapter in his Manchester United career, one that had been plagued by injuries and setbacks. Though he remained professional and continued working hard, the emotions of that evening at Anfield were not easily forgotten. Looking back, he described it as one of the most humiliating experiences he had faced, a moment that tested both his resilience and mental strength.
