Phil Jones has opened up about Erik ten Hag's departure from Manchester United, hinting that the manager might have grown 'frustrated' in his final months at Old Trafford.
The 54-year-old's departure was confirmed after months of conjecture, a period in which United's Premier League standing plummeted to 14th.
The situation escalated last week as United's lackluster Europa League campaign continued with a tumultuous 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce, followed by a last-minute loss to West Ham on Sunday.
United is reportedly focusing on Ruben Amorim as ten Hag's replacement, with Sporting Lisbon announcing on Tuesday that the club intends to trigger the €10million (£8.5m) release clause to free the manager from his contract.
Jones, who found himself sidelined by Ten Hag upon his arrival in 2022, shared his views on the manager's exit and his experience playing under him in an interview with BBC's Planet Premier League.
He stated: 'I went out onto the pitch knowing it was my last training session, so it's hard for me to understand what he was saying.
'He's very proud of his achievements at Ajax and believes in his ability to make good decisions.
'I don't believe he's overly concerned with public opinion on his decisions, but towards the end of his time at United, it seemed he grew frustrated with the questioning, as evidenced by his repeated emphasis on winning two trophies.'
Jones indicated that United's struggles, which began after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013, extend beyond the manager.
'Looking back to Sir Alex Ferguson's era, the philosophy was if you score four, we'll score five; if you score three, we'll score four. That was our focus.
'We've lost a lot of our identity over the years and have been drifting further from where we need to be.
'Observing the people at the training ground daily, those who have left the club... They are the backbone of the football club. They understand it deeply.
'The approach must return to fundamentals. While we all desire fast, attacking football with plenty of excitement in the stadium, we may need to start from scratch, focusing on being solid, compact, and difficult to beat.
