Jones: Winning the Premier League is special
In the latest UTD Podcast, Manchester United defender Phil Jones speaks about the experience of winning the Premier League.
Our no.4 joined the club from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 and, since his move from Ewood Park to Old Trafford, has won several trophies for the Reds during 10 years at the club.
In terms of honours, Jones has won the Community Shield twice, the FA Cup, the UEFA Europa League as well as the Premier League in the 2012/13 season.
The UTD Podcast episode featuring our defender, in which he relives his time at United, is exclusively available in our Official App on Monday from 17:00 BST. The episode will be published on other streaming platforms a day later.
Speaking to presenters Sam Homewood, Helen Evans and ex-Red David May in the club’s official podcast, the centre-half talks about his fond memories of winning the league title eight years ago.
“Special, very special,” Jones said on the UTD Podcast about winning the Premier League.
“I go back to it, as a kid, if you’d have told me I’d win the Premier League with Man United… There’s some things I get, a lot of players win the Premier League these days, but there’s so many players that were good players who will never come close to winning the Premier League. And to win the Premier League, to have that on your CV [is huge].”
The title was sealed with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa under the floodlights at the Theatre of Dreams, with Robin van Persie scoring an incredible first-half hat-trick, including his iconic volley following a long ball from Wayne Rooney.
“I remember the game, I remember being in the hotel the night before we played Villa on a night game and it didn’t matter who we were going to play, we’d win,” our defender told the UTD Podcast.
“We were just itching to play the game. It gives you goosebumps just now thinking about the fans when Wazza [Wayne Rooney] plays the ball over to Robin [van Persie] and he volleyed it into the net, and Old Trafford just erupted, and it was a crazy feeling at such a young age to win the Premier League.”
Although the experience of winning the highest crown in English football was a moment he will never forget, Jones has some regrets linked to the title-winning campaign in 2013.
“I just wish, looking back, I’d enjoyed it a bit more,” he said.
“I was a bit naïve, a bit young, you go and do something else and forget about it. Maybe that comes with experience.”
However, Jones looks back to the night at the Theatre of Dreams with fond memories, saying he often thinks about the title-winning season with pride.
“Being able to say that we won the Premier League, got the medal...” our no.4 said.
“I even got the replica Premier League trophy at my house to remind me and make the most of it. I want my kids to know that I’ve won the Premier League.”