Phil Jones has moved into coaching since retiring from professional football (Image: Getty)
Ex-Manchester United defender Phil Jones has opened up on the emotional struggle of spending so much of his professional career injured. The 32-year-old played 13 matches in his final four seasons before hanging up his boots for good in August.
“As footballers you have to put this mask on,” Jones told The Sun. “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?’ 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. I wouldn’t even really communicate with my friends that well.”
MORE TO FOLLOW
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit: express.co.uk/sport/football. Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @dexpress_sport – the official Daily Express & Express.co.uk Twitter account – providing real news in real time.
We’re also on Facebook @dailyexpresssport – offering your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day to like, comment and share from the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Express.co.uk.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1949388/phil-jones-mental-trauma-man-utd