Jones has his eyes on Shield showdown with Blues

PHIL Jones is desperate to win the FA Cup for United - to set up a Community Shield showdown with City at Wembley.

And the Reds defender believes a clash with the Blues on August 5 - a week before the start of the Premier League – could set down a marker for next season’s title race.

“It’s another good reason why we need to win the FA Cup,” Jones said. “We’ve been involved in a lot of Community Shield games and that’s one we relish – and we like facing tough opposition as well.”

United finished a distant 19 points behind rivals City this season, but Jones - who is heading to the World Cup with England – says lifting the FA Cup by beating Chelsea today would provide the Reds a boost.

“It will be our last game of the season,” Jones said. “If you win that, you finish on a positive note and you go into the next season feeling confident and ready to go and ready to battle again for the title next season. I really don’t think we’re far away (from City).

“In another season we might have been challenging for the title. Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up and say City have done ever so well to win the league this year, take nothing away from them. They’ve competed well in every game and won games where you’re thinking they probably would have drawn.”

United face a Chelsea side not in good form. An end-of-season slump saw them draw against Huddersfield and lose 3-0 at Newcastle, ending any hopes they had of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League

But Jones knows United face a tough challenge today at Wembley, despite the Reds’ good record against sides in the top six of the Premier League this season.

“I think we’ve done very well against the top six,” he said.

“We’ve competed well, battled well, and I think in every game we’ve deserved to win.

“There’s not a game where you think, it could have gone either way, I think we’ve deserved to win the games. “Again, that shows the direction that we’re moving in and the progression we’re making. “We need to keep doing that and winning the FA Cup final will be another step in the right direction. “Chelsea are a good defensive team. They are set up well. They have good little players like Eden Hazard and Pedro, a big lad up front who scores goals in Olivier Giroud. “They are a threat. That is why they are a top-six club. We have to go and match that and beat them.” Jones, who was on the bench for United’s 2016 FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace, admits even winning today won’t mean it has been a successful season for United. “Finishing second and winning the FA Cup would be satisfactory,” said Jones. “But I wouldn’t say successful. Success for Manchester United is winning the Premier League and another trophy, and having a good run in another cup competition.” Phil Jones