Manchester United's Phil Jones (in red) (Photo : Reuters)
Talking to reporters after his team's 0-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the recently concluded 2015 International Champions Cup, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal had intimated his preference for the team's starting back four ahead of their Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur in August. He named three players as shoo-ins for the spots but might have forgotten to mention one of his mainstays on defense, Phil Jones.
The 63-year-old Dutch coach revealed that he intends to start 20-year-old Luke Shaw, new recruit Matteo Darmian, and natural midfielder Daley Blind at the back field, but left the fourth spot open for anyone else, as per the Mirror.
"I think I shall play Shaw with Darmian, and with Daley Blind," van Gaal said. "The right central position I have to consider."
The 23-year-old Englishman had been one of the longest tenured players in United. Blind and Shaw had been with the team since last year and Darmian was just signed three weeks ago, but Jones had been a Red Devil since 2011, even when van Gaal was still not around.
However, football analysts are expecting that it was Jones' right center back position to lose. ESPN indicated that the England international started as right back in all of United's preseason games and it would be surprising if van Gaal would use someone else other than him, even if the coach did not mention his name during the interview.
Van Gaal is linked to signing Everton young defender John Stones before the season begins on August 8. The main position of the 21-year-old defender for the Toffees is right back.
