Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part six

When your strikers are firing blanks, you have to take charge, says Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones
When you need a goal, defensive duties go out the window. Members of the rearguard desert their posts and flood forward in a bid to save the day.

It’s a high risk manoeuvre. There are occasions when it pays off: Thomas Vehmaelen’s 95th minute winner for Arsenal against Newcastle. And occasions when it doesn’t: Barcelona’s AWOL defence allowing Fernando Torres to seal victory for Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.

When do you stick or twist as a defender? Join the attack and you may just net the all important goal, but you’re also risking being hit on the counter.

Who dares wins, according to Manchester United defender Phil Jones.

“I’d go up top and try to get the goal, because at the end of the day you’re losing, so it doesn’t matter whether they score another one – you’re still going to lose if you don’t score,” Jones told FFT.

Show the strikers how it’s done when it matters most with more tips and advice from the England international in this video.

Phil Jones wears the Puma PowerCat 1.12. For more information visit puma.com/football

Also see:
“What’s the key to a good defence? Talk, talk, talk”
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part one
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part two
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part three
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part four
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part five

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