Jesse Lingard turned 30 on Thursday and for 22 of those years, his world was Manchester United. He’s a lifelong fan, part of United’s family since joining their youth academy at the age of seven, and someone who believes regular trophies should be normal.
Since he first signed up at Carrington as a primary school kid, United have won seven Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the Club World Cup.
But they haven’t won any silverware in more than five years now, and their last league title was approaching 10 years ago, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season as manager at Old Trafford.
Jesse Lingard has opened up on the reasons behind his move to Nottingham Forest
Lingard has begun to hit form since making his summer move to join Forest as a free agent
Lingard too has moved on; out of contract last summer he was one of 22 players signed by Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window alone.
Over the past month, Lingard as a Mail on Sunday columnist has been providing his insight into what it’s like to go deep into a World Cup. He did it with England under Gareth Southgate in 2018.
On Sunday, as resumption of domestic top-flight football nears, and as Lingard faces the prospect of playing against United for the first time ever, he explains why he took the leap to join a newly promoted team, and how United have stuttered in recent years.
Lingard praised Forest Boss Steve Cooper (middle) for showing him love ahead of his move
Lingard revealed Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis played a key role in his move to the club
‘You always have it on your head that newly promoted teams can go down,’ he says. ‘But I look on the bright side and some stay up, stabilise and become established Premier League teams with new and higher goals.
‘I know about Forest’s history and winning the biggest trophies and I want to do well and help them get back to that.’
He reveals that it was personal interventions by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Steve Cooper that persuaded him to moved to the City Ground, ‘because they showed me the love’.
He adds: ‘I’d left United and my future was up in the air. The owner said he’d lay on a plane and fly me to Greece so he could convince me of his vision.
Attacker Lingard (left) enjoyed years of title success at boyhood club Manchester United
The 30-year-old attacker (left) also lifted the FA Cup with United in 2016 after scoring the winning goal in the final at Wembley
‘Steve Cooper said he’d come to my house and answer all my questions and talk me through the club’s plans.
‘Those offers in themselves made me feel wanted. In the end, I didn’t need to go to Greece because I met the owner in London instead, and Steve met me too, and their eagerness persuaded me.
Lingard decided to leave United in the summer of 2022
‘We all have to accept that a team with 22 new players isn’t going to gel instantly, or even work out the style of play straight away. But the owner assured me he’d spend money and buy players, and we’re getting it together now.’
On Friday night, Forest played their final friendly of the mid-season break, away at Valencia. They won 2-1, with Lingard’s pressing impressive. He also provided the assist for Forest’s opening goal by Taiwo Awoniyi. Emmanuel Dennis also scored.
Lingard has scored in the Carabao Cup this season, as Forest eliminated Tottenham. Forest’s next match, away at Blackburn, is in the same competition on Wednesday. But he has yet to score for Forest in the league, and their next league game is away at Old Trafford.
‘Even if I don’t score or assist in a game, then I’m happy for the other guy in my team who does. I set myself goals each season, I write them down, and I keep them to myself. And no, I’m not telling you what they are this season! But I’m driven to to be successful.’
He says the prospect of playing against United next weekend in a stadium he knows better than any other is ‘exciting’ and ‘an opportunity’. He will always be a United fan but says: ‘I’m a Forest player now, and we’ll be doing everything we can to win, and hope we carry on like we left off.’
‘Before the World Cup hiatus, Forest were unbeaten since the end of October, and had secured a league win against Crystal Palace to lift them to 18th, with momentum.
Now the playmaker is targeting success with newly-promoted side Nottingham Forest
Lingard was previously tipped to join former loan club West Ham United before joining Forest
The difference in recent years at Manchester United, Lingard says, is a lack of silverware that the club’s fans take as a given. ‘The success and the trophies aren’t there,’ he says. ‘So many managerial changes can be difficult.
‘Players come in and go out with each new manager at United and that leads to a lack of stability. And that has contributed to not winning trophies, which is harder when Manchester City are now constantly winning trophies.
‘We won trophies pretty consistently for most of my time associated with the club. I won the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Europa League.
Lingard believes United have struggled to adapt since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013
Lingard (left) plays alongside Man United loanee goalkeeper Dean Henderson (right) at Forest
‘Sir Alex was such a giant and such a force, it was always going to be difficult to follow that. He provided stability, he had a presence, an aura, control, knowledge, and he really looked after everyone.
‘He knew the name of every player at every level whether that was the under-14s or whatever.
‘I remember when he signed Patrice Evra in 2006, for example, he flew to France personally to meet Patrice and persuade him to join United and tell him what he could achieve. He showed him the love.
Lingard starred during Forest’s friendly match against Valencia on Friday ahead of their return
‘When I was a teenager he’d tell me that I had the talent and ability to be an important part of United’s first team by 23 or 24, and that’s what happened. He also said back then that I’d have to work hard, but he had faith I’d do that.’
Lingard is relentlessly optimistic about Forest’s prospects this season. ‘We are still in the Carabao Cup and in the FA Cup and while you’re still in a cup you have a chance of winning it.
‘That’s just how I see it. Winning any silverware with Forest would be special. It’s what we are hoping to do.’
