Man Utd star humiliated by Ralf Rangnick reveals he didn't receive single message after announcing exit
A Manchester United star who felt he was "humiliated" by Ralf Rangnick has revealed his goodbye message fell on deaf ears.
Rangnick, currently managing Austria, took charge of 31 games as interim boss at United, winning 11, drawing 12 and losing eight after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He is most remembered for taking no nonsense and not pulling any punches when it came to the media and his players.
And he left former United defender Phil Jones seething at the end of his spell when he substituted him at half-time of a 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in April 2022.
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It was just the second time Jones played that season but he only lasted 45 minutes and was taken off for Jadon Sancho.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Jones said he was "absolutely raging" that Rangnick "humiliated me in front an Anfield crowd first and foremost, fearsome rivals, and the fans and my family and the players".
Slamming his boots after feeling he was an "easy scapegoat", Jones played a further two times for United in cameo appearances against Chelsea and Brentford.
He remained with the club for the 2022/23 campaign under Erik ten Hag but did not take to the pitch due to recurring injury issues.
After 12 years at United, it was announced that Jones was being released at the end of the campaign and so he proceeded to put a farewell message in the player WhatsApp chat.
He typed a simple message prior to leaving the group but much to his embarrassment, there wasn't a single response.
"It’s the most simple thing but an emotional thing to do," Jones told journalist Henry Winter.
"You've been on the WhatsApp for years and (there’s) banter and you're sending people pictures. I remember sitting in the bedroom going, ‘Lads, it's been an absolute pleasure. I wish you all the best and I'll be your biggest supporter’. It was a tough moment.”
"I gave it a minute and there was no response. God! No one cares! But that's it. It's football. Things move so quick and people come in. I played with people for six years, I'll never see them again.”
Jones racked up 229 appearances for United before helping out with coaching in the academy. He is now working on his coaching badges, looking to achieve his UEFA Pro Licence through a course at St George's Park.
Topics: Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick, Premier League
Josh Lawless