Jones: Winning derby comes down to one thing

Phil Jones believes the secret of winning a Manchester derby boils down to one thing – mentality.

The former Reds defender appreciates the stakes are high when United and City do battle at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday but has been encouraged by the early signs displayed by Ruben Amorim’s men this season.

Speaking in Stockport while participating in the Pro Am Padel Tour, the ex-England international was optimistic that we can repeat last term’s memorable triumph away to Pep Guardiola’s side.

“Listen, I know you can say we’ve not had a great start but I watched us against Arsenal and I thought, very good, we should have won the game,” he explained.

“We were unlucky not to win the game. I watched us against Fulham and, in the first 45 minutes, I thought they were very good. The second half was not so good but there were signs there that, you know, you could be buoyed as a fan, comparing that to last season.

“So I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom. Obviously, the performance the other week [at Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup] didn’t help but it’s the Manchester derby.

“It doesn’t matter about form going into the Manchester derby,” Jones reasoned. “We’ve been out of form many times and gone there and won or got a positive result at Old Trafford.

“So I fully expect United to get a positive result in the game.

“The atmosphere is always amazing. The build-up during the game, during the week, is always magnified 10 times. So the players know what to expect.

“They’ve dealt with this pressure before. They know what they’re going into, with the environment they’re going into. So it’s no different for a player, they know what to expect.” 

When asked what the key is to gaining all three points in the 16:30 BST kick-off, Phil was clear in his answer.

“Mentality,” he insisted. “If you’ve got the right mentality and you do the basics well in a derby, the rest of what you’re working on tactically and technically, they will come out. They’ll show, as they are professional football players who play for the best clubs in the world.

“So, as long as they do the basics right and, structurally, they look good without possession, they will limit City to very few chances.”

Last season’s Etihad clash ended in a 2-1 victory, thanks to late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad.

“It’s a good game,” Jones said of padel, the fast-rising sport, which is incredibly popular across the country. “I’m more of a golfer but I’m looking forward to the tournament.

“I started a couple of years ago, when the craze came about, and really liked it. I love racquet sports. As a kid, I used to like tennis and it’s very similar.

“It’s just the competitive edge really. In any sport you play, you’ve got that winning edge. You want to win. You’ve got a partner alongside you, it’s getting the right balance in where you are you are and the relationship on the court. So I can see similarities [with football].”

The Pro Am Padel Tour 2025 (@proampadeltour) concludes with the national final in London on 14 October.

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