sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Jesse Lingard Has Revealed How Opening Up To Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Helped His Form

Jesse Lingard Has Revealed How Opening Up To Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Helped His Form

The Manchester United midfielder hasn't been having a good season but things are starting to turn around for him at Old Trafford.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Jesse Lingard has opened up about the troubles in his personal life, how they affected his form on the pitch and how a conversation with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about it all turned things around.

It has not been a good season for Lingard who lost his place in the Manchester United and England teams after a summer in which he was criticised for a video on his social media.

Rather than it being a complete loss of form for no reason it was all to do with family problems. Opening up, in revealing interview with the Daily Mail, Lingard revealed that his mum has been suffering with an illness that led to him looking after brother Jasper, 14, and sister Daisy-boo, 11.

It's not been an easy season for Lingard. Image: PA Images
It's not been an easy season for Lingard. Image: PA Images

With lots on his mind he lost form and it wasn't till he spoke to his manager that things started turning around, "I wasn't performing and he was on me all the time. He wanted more from me," he told Ian Ladyman.

"So I felt it was best to get everything off my chest and tell him why my head wasn't right. So I knocked on his door.

"...When I came on the manager said to me, 'Just go on and play with a smile and enjoy it.' To hear that gives you confidence. He knows what kind of character I am. I need to be smiling.

"He has just told me that everything will be OK. Maybe I just needed someone to say that.

"He said he just wanted the old Jesse back and maybe I can give him that now."

Lingard celebrates at the final whistle of the derby. Image: PA Images
Lingard celebrates at the final whistle of the derby. Image: PA Images

The 26-year-old was a regular under Solskjaer last season but his form has seen him drop down the pecking order before a return to form recently.

He started in both of the recent impressive Premier League wins against Spurs and Manchester City, which all involved with the club will hope are a turning point for their fortunes.

Even before the season started the England star was under scrutiny following a social media video from a holiday with friends, including teammate Marcus Rashford.

The former Leicester City loanee explained how the incident was a genuine mistake but made him fear for his Old Trafford future, saying, "It genuinely was a mistake to post it. I have a lot of young followers and I would never put that out there deliberately. It was an accident. I was meaning to send it privately to one of my friends. I was on a plane waiting to take off. Someone from the club texted me and said, 'Take the video down.'

"When I realised what I had done, my heart just sank into my stomach. I was like, "I am done at United now. This is the final straw".

"I was told the manager was going mad but I was in the air for two hours and literally couldn't do anything. When I got back I came in early to speak to the manager and apologise. He said I was on my last chance. He said I had to get my head down and that is what I have done. I am not stupid."

With all that behind him and his issues off the pitch now halved simply by being shared hopefully Lingard can get back to doing what he does best, playing football.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, Spurs, Football News, Manchester United, Euro 2020, Premier League, England, Gareth Southgate, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, World Cup, Jesse Lingard