‘We were a laughing stock’

BUT JONES CLAIMS THE JOKE’S ON UNITED CRITICS

PHIL JONES reckons resurgent Manchester United are having the last laugh after being written off earlier this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have gone from 12 points off the top four to being favourites for a Champions League place.

Now a Champions League tie against French giants

Paris Saint-germain holds no fears for them.

Jones said: “Everyone’s going to take us seriously now. We might have been a bit of a laughing stock at the start of the season but certainly not now.

“We’ve proven that in the last 10 or 12 games. We’re improving.”

Saturday’s 3-0 win at Fulham means United have now won 10 of their last 11 and drawn the other since Solskjaer (above) succeeded Jose Mourinho in December.

Solskjaer’s adviser, Jim Solbakken, was at Craven Cottage and held talks with United owner Avram Glazer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward after the impressive display.

Jones added: “There’s a positivity about the place to grind results out when we’re not playing well.”

United, still in the FA Cup, are unrecognisable under their interim boss.

It is a far cry from the first half of the season when pundits were convinced that the squad was not good enough.

Jones added: “It was tough for everyone involved. We’re still under no illusions but we’re heading in the right direction.”

The Old Trafford defender hit back at critics who questioned whether he was worth the new deal he was given last week.

Jones, who signed a four-year contract, said: “I don’t lose sleep over what people say about me.

“It’s football. I’ve had criticism in the past and I’m going to get criticism in the future. I don’t care.

“I’ve been given an extra contract and it’s great.”