Lingard Reacts To New United Contract

Jesse Lingard's contributions to Manchester United's first team have been rewarded with the inking of a new contract, yet the 24-year-old Academy graduate is not getting carried away. In fact, he is adamant that he must prove himself all over again.

“I’m obviously over the moon and very happy,” Lingard told MUTV, when offering his immediate reaction to the deal. “Me and my family worked hard to get me to where I am and the hard work now starts again.”

As a homegrown player and a lifelong Reds supporter, Jesse also carries an emotional attachment to the club and he is grateful to the fans who have backed him throughout these early stages of his fledgling career. “It’s been massive for me,” he admits. “They’ve supported me all the way through.

“They’ve watched my development and taken care of me. All I can say is thank you. It’s always going to be hard to break through at a big club but they’ve stuck by me and it’s a great feeling.”

LINGARD'S STORY SO FAR

After ascending the ranks of the Academy, experiencing several loan moves along the way, Lingard made his senior debut against Swansea City in August 2014 but unluckily suffered a serious knee injury. 

Jesse is far stronger than he may appear, though, and later returned to the first-team fold at Everton in October 2015. Having impressed, he remained a part of former manager Louis van Gaal's squad and famously scored an extra-time winner in the Emirates FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in May 2016. "That goal is at the top at the moment," Jesse says. "It was a very important season for us to come out with a trophy."

This season, under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, Lingard netted an excellent goal in the Community Shield and continued his top form at Wembey with a neat finish in the EFL Cup final success. Although the boss wants him to become more prolific, the signing of a new contract underlines the manager's faith.

"We know his resumé and the fact he’s won a lot of trophies," says Lingard of Mourinho. "It’s obviously great to work under him. He’s put trust in the young players this season."