Lingard Coming To The Fore

Having continued his impressive breakthrough season with some eye-catching displays, Jesse Lingard sat down with last Sunday's United Review, the official matchday programme, to signal his intent on maintaining a strong finish to the campaign...

Do you think the derby was your favourite and best game of the season?
Yeah, firstly it was my favourite and the gaffer said after the match it was my best game of the season. I enjoy playing in the no.10 role - I feel more comfortable, as you can get on the ball and create things. And with Marcus [Rashford] scoring, obviously he’s another local boy to come through the ranks, it made the win even more enjoyable.

The manager suggested he feels a central role could be best for you and it’s something you’ve always craved…
I’ve always liked the no.10 position. You can get on the ball a lot more and attempt to dictate the play a lot more. I have been enjoying playing on the right and the left as well, though, and you’re going to play anywhere the gaffer wants you to play.

How different is the central role to playing out wide? Like you say, you get on the ball more but is more tackling involved?
You are definitely more involved defensively and, obviously, attacking-wise too. But, even when you’re on the wing, you have to get back to defend, so it doesn’t really matter where I play, I will still do a job for the team.

Do you feel the no.10 position is an evolving role – it used to be a flair player with little responsibility but is that changing?
I think it’s more like a free role nowadays and you can go anywhere to try to make things happen and create things. That’s the main idea but obviously you’ve still got to defend.

You showed yourself to be up to the physical challenge at the Etihad. Are you hopeful that will draw a line under talk of your stature counting against you?
Going up against Yaya Toure, he is one of the biggest of all the midfielders in the Premier League, so it was obviously a good test. Fernandinho came on and he’s a big guy as well, so it was a real test but I think all the young lads stood up to the task. We had the backing of Michael [Carrick] in midfield to give us a bit more experience towards the end, when we had to manage the game and see it out. It's all about development and I had to play wide when I was younger because there were a lot of big lads in the midfield. Now I’m coming to the fore and handled myself against City so I don’t see why I can’t carry it on.

Rio Ferdinand was public in his praise of you, saying: ‘He’s a proper footballer and does what most kids don’t appreciate the days, intelligent movement off the ball.’ Did you see his comments?
I did. I think, especially if you’re playing in the no.10 role, you’re always going to need that intelligence and that vision to see things around you to find that killer pass. But Rio saying that gives you another massive confidence boost. I still speak to Rio now and then. I still ask for advice and stuff like that. He’s always looked out for me and I still speak to him as we keep in contact.

It’s not just people related to United who have been praising you. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said you were his Man of the Match in the derby on Match of the Day 2…
Things like that are always going to spur you on and make you hungry for more. I’ve just got to keep my feet on the ground and work hard. It’s only my first season, I’ve not really made it yet. I’ve got to keep working hard on the pitch.

Has playing regularly made you more confident?
I think you play with more confidence because it builds up. I’ve played most games this season anyway, so my confidence is there, it’s just about performing on the pitch. I’d like to add more goals, obviously they’re going to come because it’s still my first season in the Premier League. I am still adapting and getting used to it. Hopefully, I can kick on stronger next season as well.

Is training less intense during the international break and is that welcome after the busy schedule we have had?
Of course, you need a break and training is a little bit lighter. The lads from the Reserves come and train with us throughout the week and we had a few days off over the Easter weekend, which is nice. We’ve had games over Easter in the past so it was a change for us.

How vital was the victory against City in ensuring we can still realistically challenge for a top-four slot?
Of course, we needed that win. Derby day is always massive anyway, most of all for the fans and it was a great day for the United supporters. We do it for them and obviously for ourselves. If we hadn't won that game, it would have been pretty much over. But we're still there and still in sight of the top four. Everyone wants to play in the Champions League every season. I still hope we can do it and I think we can.

When you look at your season as a whole, have your surpassed your own expectations?
I think I have! I'd love to get to Wembley in the FA Cup. If we get to the final, I think we’ve got a good chance of winning that. Obviously, to get into the top four as well is also a main aim. I've just got to keep my feet on the ground and work hard. I just do the right things. I work hard on and off the field. Louis van Gaal has seen that and put me in. Obviously, to put the youngsters in is a risk but he’s trusted us and placed his faith in us all. It's only my first season; I've not really made it yet. I've got to keep working hard on the pitch.

We know you don’t want to get carried away yet but, when you say you’ve not made it yet, you must feel you are in the process of making it at the moment…
No, what I mean is I think I cannot let my foot off the gas. I’ve got to keep going now until the end of the season and play as many games as I can. We must stay in the FA Cup and get into that top four.