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‘I just wanted to drink to take the pain away’: Jesse Lingard talks about his mental health battles, as he admitted at Man United that ‘abuse’ of fans during personal struggles left him with no time to to play soccer
- Jesse Lingard reveals how he bottomed out at Manchester United in 2020
- Cared for younger siblings while their mother received medical care
- Fan abuse while boarding a team bus in 2020 made him want 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 shines in Nottingham Forest
Jesse Lingard is candid about his mental health issues that he endured during the latter stages of his Manchester United career.
Lingard left Old Trafford in the summer, having spent his entire professional career on the club’s books, following his progression through the academy.
But despite fulfilling every child’s dream of playing for their backed club, Lingard admitted he suffered from depression at United, and the 29-year-old added that he drank alcohol to try to counter the debilitating effects of the combat mental illness.
Jesse Lingard has opened up about his mental health issues at Manchester United
Lingard admits fans were abused while boarding a team bus in 2020, leaving him feeling rock bottom
“I was talking to people and I was like, ‘Yeah. OKAY. Yes,’ he said to the Guardian.
“Nothing would be recorded. It went 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 have a drink – try to take the pain away. I don’t, normally. But sitting at home and drinking before bed… then I knew I was in a bad situation. It didn’t drink too much. It was only small parts of the week.’
In 2019, Lingard’s mother was admitted to a medical facility for treatment and it resulted in the now Nottingham Forest ace having to care for his brother Jasper and sister Daisy who came to live with him for about six months. The combination of having to provide for their school needs and their joint care for their mother caused him to reach an all-time low.
At around the same time, Lingard had played 90 minutes in an FA Cup tie at Derby, before shutting down in March 2020. achievements – and it left him thinking about his career and wanting to take a ‘two month break’.
Lingard was insulted by United fans after a cup game in March 2020 in Derby (above)
Lingard’s loan spell to West Ham United in 2021 sparked a burst of form for the midfielder
“I felt so critically watched, especially after the Derby match and I was insulted when I got on the bus,” added Lingard.
“Normally I can handle it, but sometimes it gets to a point where it’s like “Ah, I can’t even do this anymore”.
“Nobody really knew about my struggles off the field, so they think, ‘You’re a footballer, you live in a nice house, you have money, you can handle anything.’ But when it comes to one’s health and well-being, it’s a different situation. We are all human.’
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a supporting figure for Lingard behind the scenes
The 29-year-old now shines in Nottingham Forest, where he scored against the Spurs this month
Lingard praised the support he received from then United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United’s club doctor, despite often struggling to break through the Norwegian’s line-up.
After a successful loan spell with West Ham in the second half of the 2020-21 season, the former England midfielder’s contract with United expired in the summer before moving to Nottingham Forest.
This season he has made 14 appearances for the new Premier League boys and this month scored his first goal in a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.