‘I just wanted to drink to take the pain away’: Jesse Lingard opens up on his mental health battles while at Man United admitting ‘abuse’ from fans during personal struggles left him wanting a time out away from football
- Jesse Lingard reveals how he hit rock bottom at Manchester United in 2020
- Was caring for younger siblings while their mother was receiving medical care
- Abuse from fans while boarding a team bus in 2020 left him wanting to quit
- While he never intended to retire full time he did want time away from the game
- Lingard left United in the summer and now stars at Nottingham Forest
Jesse Lingard has opened up on his mental health struggles that he endured during the latter stages of his Manchester United career.
Lingard departed Old Trafford in the summer, having spent his entire professional career on the club’s books following on from his progression through the academy.
But despite living every child’s dream of playing for their supported club, Lingard admitted he suffered through depression at United, with the 29-year-old adding that he drank alcohol to try and combat the debilitating effects of the mental illness.
Jesse Lingard has opened up on his mental health struggles while at Manchester United
Lingard admits abuse from fans while boarding a team bus in 2020 left him feeling rock bottom
‘I was having conversations with people and I was just like: ‘Yeah. OK. Yeah,’ he told the Guardian.
‘Nothing would register. It would go in one ear and out the other. I was numb and I wanted to be in that numb state where I didn’t have to feel anything.’
‘Literally, I just wanted to sit at home and drink a little bit – try and take the pain away. I don’t do that, normally. But sitting at home and drinking before bed … that’s when I knew I was in a bad situation. It wasn’t drinking to excess. It was just little bits through the week.’
In 2019, Lingard’s mother was admitted to a medical facility for treatment and it led to the now Nottingham Forest ace having to take care of of his brother Jasper and sister Daisy who came to live with him for around six months. The combination of having to cater for their school needs as well as their unified concern for their mother left him rock bottom.
Around the same time Lingard had played 90 minutes in an FA Cup tie at Derby before lockdown in March 2020. But despite winning 3-0, he was abused by supporters as he boarded the team bus post-match – with the fans unhappy with his performance – and it left him considering his career and wanting to take a ‘break for two months’.
Lingard received abuse from United fans following a March 2020 cup tie at Derby (above)
Lingard’s loan move to West Ham United in 2021 led to a burst of form for the midfielder
‘I just felt so much scrutiny, especially after the Derby game and I was getting abuse as I got on the bus,’ Lingard added.
‘I can normally take it but sometimes it gets to a point where it’s like “Ahh, I can’t even be arsed doing this any more”.
‘Nobody really knew about my struggles off the pitch so they think “You’re a footballer, you live in a nice house, you’ve got money, you can deal with anything.” But when it’s someone’s health and well being – it’s a different situation. We’re all human.’
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a supportive figure to Lingard behind the scenes
The 29-year-old is now shining at Nottingham Forest where he scored against Spurs this month
Lingard praised the support he received from then United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well as United’s club doctor, despite him often struggling to break into the Norwegian’s line-up.
After a successful loan spell at West Ham in the second half of the 2020-21 season, the former England midfielder’s United contract expired in the summer, where he then joined Nottingham Forest.
This term he has featured 14 times for the Premier League new boys, scoring his first goal this month in a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.
