Pranav Nair
Jesse Lingard claims Solskjaer denied him an opportunity to impress at Manchester United
Speaking to BT Sport (h/t The Sun), Manchester United loanee, Jesse Lingard has blamed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for not giving him enough opportunities at the club.
The Norwegian largely overlooked the midfielder at Old Trafford, largely limiting his playing time. The 28-year-old made just three appearances for the Red Devils this season, totaling 179 minutes.
In contrast, the player has already eclipsed that tally since joining West Ham United on loan last month. He has emerged as a key player for David Moyes as the Hammers push for a top-six finish.
Lingard was a scorer for United in Solskjaer’s first game in charge in 2018. He had since endured a dry spell severely affecting his goal contributions.
He spent the lockdown reliving his best moments and was eager to impress once football returned. His pent up fire, however, blazed for nothing as Solskjaer continued to overlook him.
“I came back one of the strongest and fittest after the lockdown and I didn’t get my chance that I was waiting on.”
Lingard to his credit did not let it get to him and spent his time training to stay in top shape. Eventually it did pay off, just not at United.
‘The whole time I was there and not playing I was doing extra training and keeping on top of my fitness for when the time was right.”
Dare to dream!
The player is keen to rejuvenate a flagging career with an impressive stint at West Ham. He has also not ruled out a return to the England fold ahead of next summer’s European championships.
“I have my own targets that I have wrote down before I came to West Ham and as long as I can hit them, we’ll see which doors open for me.”
He will have to enjoy an incredibly sucessful second half of the season to make England’s squad. Gareth Southgate was a fan of the player during his best days at United and could give him a chance provided he continues to impress.
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Lingard has been excellent for West Ham so far. He has already scored twice and played a key role in their win over Sheffield United. His performances have also gained him appreciation from United legend, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 28-year-old’s success at West Ham begs two questions. Whether he has found his level with the Hammers or if Solskjaer indeed failed to get the best out of him.
