Manchester United’s England striker Wayne Rooney (L) and Manchester United’s England defender Phil Jones (R) arrive for a training session at their Carrington facility in Manchester, northwest England on October 20, 2015 before their Champions League soccer match against CSKA Moscow on October 20, 2015. October 21. PHOTO AFP / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
When footballers are at the top of their game, it’s not just their physical health that needs to be in top condition, and as one former Man United star pointed out, the constant trolling he was subjected to by the faceless warriors of the internet keyboard took place. a real toll on his mental health.
Although he was probably never the most popular player at Old Trafford, Man United fans always knew they would get 100% effort and commitment from Phil Jones when he was fit.
The ex-Man United ace talks about the serious effects of trolling
Unfortunately, injuries blighted his United career and, coupled with the trolls taking pot shots when they felt like it, it’s no wonder it eventually took its toll.
“Whoever tells you it doesn’t affect (them) is lying. And as football players you have to put that mask on,” Jones said Sports World.
“You’re paid a lot of money, so you’re not allowed to have feelings or emotions. The physical injuries made me mentally weak at times.
“Obviously people are going to ask, ‘is he always hurt?’ like they think I wake up one day and think, “Oh yeah, I like being hurt today.”
“But my coping mechanism was to shut up, put my guard up, put my shield up with my very close family. I wouldn’t even communicate that well with my friends.”
It sheds more light on the human side of the game and puts a clearer focus on why social media organizations should be doing more when it comes to online abuse.
Jones’ testimony will no doubt help players who may be suffering in silence as he once did.
Having good mental health is just as important, if not more, than having good physical health, and the associated confidence that being in the right headspace would bring could be the difference between getting that extra percentage needed to decide matches in the great moments .
Top photo by Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
