JESSE LINGARD has opened up on his relationship with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
Lingard, 32, had his most successful years at United playing for the Special One, who now works as the boss of Fenerbahce.
The attacking midfielder contributed to 20 goals (13 goals and seven assists) in all competitions in the 2017/18 season which saw him book a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Lingard, who now plays for Seoul FC in South Korea, revealed how “chill” Mourinho used to be with him.
In an interview with The Independent, Lingard said: “Mourinho was so chilled sometimes.
“He used to FaceTime me from his room in the Lowry [hotel], ask me what I’m doing. I thought that was a real confidence boost.
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“During that season, leading up to the 2018 World Cup, Jose played me most games… it was a big season.”
Lingard – who had just 12 caps for the Three Lions before the tournament – thanked Southgate for the faith he showed in him by giving him a starting berth in Russia.
He started all but two games there – dead-rubbers against Belgium at the end of the group stage and in the third-place play-off respectively – while scoring once and setting up two goals.
Lingard continued: “And you know, going to the World Cup, you’re not expecting to start.
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“But Gareth Southgate had a lot of faith in me from a young age, and I played every game.”
The 2018 World Cup was England’s best performance in a World Cup finals since 1966 and restored pride in the national team.
However, Lingard still believes it was a case of “what might have been”, saying he thinks he and his team-mates should have beaten Croatia in the semi-final.
Lingard’s career arguably peaked that summer and that season, with his attacking returns the following campaign dipping to only eight goals and assists.
A loan spell to West Ham where he scored nine goals in 16 games looked set to be the career revival he needed after stuttering at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But he would return to Old Trafford at the end of the spell only to spend his time as a highly-paid benchwarmer.
Lingard explained: “Being in the same environment for a long time… it kind of stifles you. In football, you’ve always got ups and downs. You’ve got to be mentally strong.
“And, you know, sometimes at United, I wasn’t. Things happen off the pitch that you can’t really control… it affects you on the pitch.
“I spoke to Ole and a couple of staff members and they understood, because they’re human as well.
“It comes to a certain point where, when you’re not playing regularly, you’re not just going to sit there for the money.”
Lingard added: “I was really dialled in and locked in at that time. The way I played, when you come back to your home club, you’re expecting to play. Obviously, that didn’t happen.
“You get frustrated. My application in training each day was always 100 per cent, you know… But, you come to a certain time where you need to leave.
“The last day, I was crying on the way home… to leave was obviously emotional but it was what I needed to do.
“Playing for that badge week in, week out, is one of the best feelings I’ve had.”
He eventually left his boyhood club in 2022 to join Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal, though a lack of playing time there, which Lingard puts down to injury, saw him leave the City Ground after one season.
Lingard then spent half a year without a club as he was hit by an 18-month driving ban after being found guilty of drink-driving before tragically losing his grandmother in November.
On the tough period, he said: “I was home with my family and my nan wasn’t well.
“I felt at the time it was just God saying, ‘Be with your family, enjoy the family time’.
“Then, going to Dubai for a training camp in December and getting ready for January. Just being strict with that. I feel like it all just played a part.”
Lingard eventually signed for Seoul FC in February 2024.
He had a tough start to life in Asia before undergoing knee surgery but found form following his return, scoring six goals and adding three assists to end the campaign.
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Lingard is said to be enjoying life in South Korea, telling a fan on social media “Korea is lit”, during a bizarre response to a “shambolic accusation” that he, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford had “ruined Man Utd’s culture”.
The attacking midfielder’s second season with the club started last Saturday, ending in a 2-0 defeat to Jeju SK.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
