Podcast, Interview
Jesse Lingard Reveals The Problem With Man United Today & Why He Moved To Nottingham Forest | E214
- Jesse Lingard attributes his decision to leave Manchester United to a combination of personal depression, intense online abuse, and a lack of support from the club hierarchy.
- Lingard reveals he was drinking to cope with pain during a low point where he felt "the world on my shoulders" while caring for his younger siblings.
- Lingard's mother was admitted to a hospital in 2019 due to severe depression that had persisted since the time he was born.
- He estimates that his mother's mental health struggles were triggered by the responsibility of having a child, noting she "couldn't cope" and would spend days in bed.
- Lingard describes his grandmother as the primary supportive figure, while his father and grandfather were often critical; his grandfather, a powerlifter, pushed him intensely, even lifting weights with him at age 10.
- Lingard's mother struggled with the pressure of raising him, eventually quitting gymnastics due to the stress, while his grandfather was banned from matches for being overly critical.
- Lingard notes that his mother's depression included erratic behaviors, such as stretching his legs before bed, which confused him as a child.
- His mother eventually found the motivation to attend the 2018 World Cup, a moment Lingard describes as emotional and pivotal for him.
- Lingard states that his mother has since struggled with relationships, frequently entering partnerships with men he describes as narcissists, including a man who later took his own life.
- The "hairdryer" treatment used by Sir Alex Ferguson was described by Lingard as a mix of toughness and genuine care, contrasting with the perceived lack of "family" culture in the post-Ferguson era.
- Lingard asserts that the post-Ferguson culture at Manchester United shifted from a cohesive "fortress" to a "free-for-all" where players felt a lack of control and direction.
- Lingard claims he played his best football under Jose Mourinho, scoring nine goals and providing five assists between February and May 2020.
- Lingard was excluded from the England squad for the Euro 2020 tournament despite his strong form at West Ham, though he refuses to speculate on the specific reason.
- Following his exclusion, Lingard requested two days off from Manchester United management; the club publicly framed this as him asking for time off, sparking a social media backlash.
- Lingard denies asking for "days off," stating he merely agreed to a manager's offer of rest before the club released a statement accusing him of seeking time away without permission.
- The club allowed Lingard to take the two days off after he messaged them regarding the manager's offer, but the situation escalated into a public dispute.
- Lingard left Manchester United in 2022 to join Nottingham Forest because Forest demonstrated more "love" and respect during negotiations compared to West Ham, whom he felt rushed the process.
- Lingard expressed that leaving Manchester United was a difficult emotional moment, during which he cried all the way home, citing a need for happiness over remaining at a club where he wasn't playing.
- He notes that the Manchester United training facilities have fallen behind modern competitors like Manchester City, lacking modern amenities like game rooms and updated social spaces.
- Lingard is launching a media company called "One Touch," named after his time training with his grandfather, which aims to handle production for his future projects.
- His long-term career goal is to transition into acting, specifically starting with comedy roles before pursuing dramatic parts.
- Lingard identifies his desire to question authority and situations more as a personal growth area he has only recently begun to integrate into his life.
- The podcast episode marked a milestone for the host, reaching one million subscribers, with roughly 65% of viewers being channel subscribers.
- Lingard's documentary on Channel 4 is credited with initiating a broader conversation regarding player mental health and empathy behind the scenes.