Jesse Lingard’s return to Old Trafford on Tuesday night had an extra dimension, according to the United academy graduate. The 32-time England international is not happy with the way he ended up sidelined at United, but is nevertheless looking forward to his return to Old Trafford.
Lingard left United for Forest last summer, having already been loaned out to West Ham United a year earlier due to lack of playing time. In the seasons before that, the attacking midfielder had always been a useful force for the club where he went through the youth academy and also became a regular member of the England squad.
In conversation with The Telegraph. Lingard looked back on the period in which he played little, “I don’t know what the problem was. Whether it was political or something else. To this day I have not received an answer. I didn’t ask either. I wish someone had explained out of respect why I didn’t play, but that never happened.”
Lingard returned to West Ham United after a strong six months on loan, believing he would get another chance under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but saw little action under the Norwegian manager in the early months of the 2021/22 season. That hardly changed after the arrival of interim coach Ralf Rangnick.
“False promises were made,” Lingard looks back
“False promises were made,” Lingard looks back. “I trained hard and I was sharp, I was ready to play. When you work hard in training and don’t play, it’s very frustrating. But I’m not the type to sulk. I’m always happy in the locker room. I continued to train and did my best when I came in from time to time. It was difficult.”
Still, Lingard does not look back with resentment on his time at United. Where he already entered the youth academy in 2001. “It will be nice, but we also want to win the game by winning. You shouldn’t get too carried away by your emotions. But it is an opportunity for me to say goodbye because I never really got around to it,” Forest’s star player concluded.
