Phil Jones wanted to leave United after his first training session under Erik ten Hag (Image: GETTY)
Phil Jones was adamant that he wanted to leave after his first training session under . The former Red Devils defender spent 12 years at Old Trafford but his decision to walk away was made in just 20 minutes.Jones left United last year, having missed the entirety of Ten Hag’s debut campaign with a long-term knee injury. He worked tirelessly to get himself in the best physical shape for the 2022/23 campaign but was almost immediately given a rude awakening.After taking to the pitch for his first training session under Ten Hag, Jones quickly decided that he no longer wanted to play for United and promptly left the club. He explained that he simply could not cope with the physical demands of professional football any longer.
Jones decided he was done with football after trying to return from a knee injury (Image: GETTY)
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Opening up on that fateful session on the podcast, Jones said: “I came back, first day, really excited, had come in. Fresh start. You’re out on the grass. Boots back on.
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“I got through the session. I was passing the ball with the outside of my left foot. I’d got quite good with my left foot, I was technically really good with my left foot because I had to be better.”I played with my left throughout the whole session but I remember I just turned and sprinted and I just felt it [my knee]. I couldn’t carry on.”I came over the physio and my words were, ‘This is my last training session’. And to this day it was my last training session. I was done.”Jones has not played football since, having confirmed earlier this year that he will pursue a career in coaching. He has also dabbled in punditry work and featured as an analyst on Match of the Day last weekend.