Phil Jones: We Were Not Good Enough

Phil Jones has today said that England deserved to go out of the Under 21 European Championships. The English team failed to beat the Czechs in tonight's game in which England needed a win to proceed into the next phase, the semi finals, of the tournament.

Jones, 19, was captain for the night but England suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic. "I'm gutted, we're so disappointed in there," he said.

"That's probably the best we've played all tournament but we can't really come out and say we were unlucky because we weren't good enough to stick the ball in the net on occasions when we should have.

"The lads are absolutely gutted in there but we've got to carry on from this and it will only make us strong and we can improve from it."

Danny Welbeck put England in front with 14 minutes remaining with a headed goal from a Daniel Sturridge cross, but a spectacular late collapse saw the Czechs get back into the game on the 89th minute, before producing a winner with the final kick of the game.

"It was just a matter of seeing it out and we couldn't do that," said Jones. "I'm speechless, I don't know what to say.

"Maybe we'll look back at it tomorrow when emotions have died down a bit but we're just so disappointed."
The Manchester United new signing added: "We were training well, we were well prepared for this tournament. I wouldn't say we didn't play well, but we didn't play as well as we could have done."

He also said: "It's a massive honour to captain your country at any level and tonight was brilliant for me, but it's been tarnished a bit by the result in the end."

Phil Jones Completes Manchester United Move

Manchester United has today confirmed that they have signed Blackburn Rovers' Phil Jones; the defender has joined the Old Trafford outfit on a five-year contract.

The defender is currently in Denmark with England’s Under 21 squad which is competing in the U21 European Championship. Jones had a terrific last season for Blackburn Rovers and played a pivotal role in the team’s Premier League survival. Now with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the same team the U21 central defender pair are seen as United’s future top level defenders.

The fee for Jones is believed to be around the £16.5m mark, which effectively triggered a buyout clause in the player’s contract at Blackburn forcing the club to sell the U21 player.

"Manchester United is delighted to announce it has signed an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for the transfer of Phil Jones," said a United statement.

"The player passed a medical in Manchester last week and has agreed a five-year contract.

"The deal will be completed once the player returns from international duty."

The deal could become a potential record deal for Blackburn and the club have released a statement on behalf of the owners, board and manager.

"Much as we would love him to stay on with us, and we made all efforts to convince him to stay, Phil has to finally follow his heart," read the statement. (Not to mention the pay cheque!).

"We are extremely happy with his contribution to our team and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours."

Blackburn Rover's statement may well indicate a certain gritting of the teeth but with United willing to buy out such a young player only the future will show if Jones is worth it.