Phil Jones believes the Manchester United fans will be important in helping the Red Devils get victories
Manchester United will need the fans to stick by them if the results are to change insists defender Phil Jones.
The Red Devils are struggling under manager Louis van Gaal with no win in six games leaving the side in a difficult position.
United are now out of the Champions League after failing to win one of their last two group games. They are already out of the League Cup and are now in fifth spot in the Premier League table with a top four finish a must for the board.
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Van Gaal has spent over £200million since he arrived in 2014 but the 64 year-old has failed to deliver the results. And that has now led the hierarchy into considering Jose Mourinho, as reported by ESPN, with the former Chelsea boss an admirer of the club.
But Jones is determined to keep going and the defender believes the team need to keep plugging away. The England international only returned from injury this week and he started against Norwich City on the weekend – where United lost their first home game of the season. However, Jones believes the fans will now be key in making sure the side get back on track.
"The defender told ManUtd.com: “It was disappointing again. We’ve just got to keep going, working hard, take the criticism and stick together. There’s nothing else we can do.“We need to keep plugging away, create chances, get back to the drawing board and pick ourselves up. We’ve played good football in patches this season but we need to stick together, there’s nothing else we can do.“We can’t come out and say we’ve played well in parts because ultimately we’ve lost the game. We’re upset, the fans are upset, everyone is upset, but we need the fans more than ever now.”"
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The defeat to Norwich means United have failed to win since beating Watford a few weeks ago. Games have come thick and fast and that will continue with a trip to Stoke City on Saturday, a game Jones says the side must focus on.
"“We’ve got to pull through and we will. Only ourselves can turn it around,” he continued. “We have the chance to do that against Stoke, which is going to be a difficult game again, but we’ve got to go and do it. We’ve got to prepare right and win the game.”"
Van Gaal, 64, is likely to be in charge for the trip to the Britannia Stadium and he will need a win to get the fans back on track. But that is looking less likely with United struggling for form and having to deal with injuries.
Jones will be one of those now looking to stay fit and he added that whoever the boss picks to play, all give their best with the dressing room still behind the ex-Netherlands boss.
"“The manager picks the team and the team have to go out and do their best,” he insisted. “We might be playing well in patches and not scoring or whatever it is, but we need to take responsibility for results.“The players aren’t hiding behind anyone. The manager is doing all he can and is doing a terrific job.“It’s not even questionable in the dressing room [that the manager has the players’ backing]. The lads are fully focused on doing well for ourselves, the manager and the fans week in, week out.“He [van Gaal] has been positive, the same as us. He’s devastated when we’ve lost games but the only way we are going to come out of this is if we keep working hard,” Jones added."