Lingard: New Boys Boosted Our Belief

Jesse Lingard believes Manchester United are well equipped to collect trophies this term after strengthening the personnel with players like serial winners Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

That pair in particular have a pedigree for picking up honours - Pogba helped Juventus to land their last four Italian league titles in a row, while Ibrahimovic was doing the same at Paris Saint-Germain in France. 

Lingard feels the summer signings' successful habits can be imbued by the squad looking to build on last term's FA Cup triumph.

"The players that have come in can help a lot," said Jesse, in a recent interview before the current international break.

"We're still getting to know each other better, to learn off each other week in, week out. But with the four signings we've made [Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan being the others], I think we have a strong enough squad to win the league this season." 

When asked about the effect of having an ultra-confident figure like Ibrahimovic at the Aon Training Complex, Lingard said: "The mentality of wanting to win has come into my game more.

"Before games, my first thought was to play well but often if you get the win, the performance will come with it. When Zlatan came in, the first thing he said was he wants to win. Obviously that mentality rubs off on all the team."

As for Pogba, Lingard reminds us that the Frenchman has already won silverware with United, during his first spell at the club.

"When we won the FA Youth Cup, he was consistent all through the rounds, playing very well," recalled Jesse, who was part of the same victorious Under-18 squad in 2011.

"He made our team more stable, sitting in front of the back four and dictating the play. He went on to win trophies [with Juventus] and obviously he's looking to win more with United now he's back."

Few people at United know Pogba as well as Lingard does, given their time together in the club's Academy. When asked to describe the record signing's strengths on the pitch, Jesse replied: "I think he's got a great range of passing and the vision to see a pass. He's strong - it's so hard to get the ball off him - and he's still developing."

As for Pogba's character traits off the pitch, Lingard revealed: "He's a joker in the changing room, always dancing and trying to make you laugh. We have a good bunch of lads, with good team spirit, and I think that can take us to the top this season."