Criticism spurred us, says Phil Jones

Phil Jones says public criticism of Manchester United has fuelled the team’s recent revival.

United are now odds-on to qualify for the Champions League after recording back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Liverpool.

Such a double would have seemed impossible just a few months ago when manager Louis van Gaal came under fire after his team put in a number of underwhelming displays.

Some of the strongest criticism came from ex-United players like Gary Neville, who compared Van Gaal’s side to a pub team and Paul Scholes, who labelled some of United’s play “prehistoric”.

But with United now five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, their critics have fallen silent.

“People criticising does spur you on,” Jones said. “You are always going to get critics. We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things aren’t going as well as they should be then there is always going to be people wanting to have a dig and a pop at you.

“We have been well aware of the criticism we have had. We are professionals and we are in a job where people have an opinion about you and they are entitled to it and we just have to get on with it.”