Manchester United central defender Phil Jones did not hold back when describing the club’s miserable performance at Newcastle United yesterday. The Red Devils, second place in the table, traveled to Newcastle United, a side struggling to stay up in the Premier League this season and got upset 1-0.
The dismal showing made United the subject of criticism worldwide, and with a lot of the harshest critiques directed at Jones’ partner in central defense, Chris Smalling. Another popular scapegoat was Paul Pogba, but overall it was mostly an entire team let down. There is plenty of blame to go around. Also, credit the Magpies, who “fought like animals,” according to United manager Jose Mourinho.
In an interview with MUTV, the club’s official website video channel, Phil Jones said:
“We didn’t show up today, we started slowly and they pressed us and the crowd were on their feet. We got control midway through the first half and should have scored. We had a few chances cleared off the line, but we weren’t at the races, we weren’t good enough, it’s as simple as that.
“Ultimately we have conceded a sloppy goal and the lads are devastated in the dressing room.”
The defeat left United just two points clear of third place Liverpool, and three points ahead of fourth place Chelsea. United can’t afford too many more slip-ups like this, or they could run the risk of falling out of the top four.
As for Newcastle, they are now two points clear of the relegation zone.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.