Manchester United defender Phil Jones has confessed that failing to advance from the group stage of last season’s Champions League was “tough” to deal with.

The Red Devils finished third behind Basel and Benfica last term, dropping into the Europa League.

Jones admitted that failing to get into the knockout phase was a real blow to the team:

"It was a bitter pill to swallow.” He said.

"For a club of Manchester United's stature it was not an easy thing to deal with.

"This club is used to being in the semi-finals and finals of the Champions League and even winning it, so it was not a nice feeling to get knocked out the way we did.”

This season has been a different story, with the Old Trafford club already having secured top spot with one game to play.

Ahead of their sixth European tie of the season the centre-back hinted that last year’s failure has forced a reaction from the squad:

"We've bounced back incredibly well this season.

"The lads have played some terrific stuff and hopefully we can kick on and go as far as we can."

The Premier League leaders take on CFR Cluj on Wednesday and are likely to rest a number of big name stars ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby.