Jesse: What I've Added To My Game Under Jose

Jesse Lingard revealed the attributes he's added to his game this season - and identified an aspect he'd like to improve - during a recent exclusive interview with Manchester United's official magazine.

The cover star for June's edition of Inside United clocked up his 40th appearance of the current campaign on Sunday, in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and he started both legs of the Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo to highlight his value to Jose Mourinho.

The 24-year-old feels settled at his boyhood club after signing a new contract last month, and he has been pleased with his contribution as the Reds chase a third piece of silverware to add to the Community Shield and EFL Cup final - trophies he helped to win by scoring at Wembley in August and February respectively.

When asked what he has added to his game since his breakthrough season last year, Lingard replied: "Confidence and, I think, consistency. These are the main two areas that are vitally important. The manager stresses the importance of consistency and the need to impress him week in, week out. You have to be 100 per cent all the time."

Jesse was then quizzed on something he would like to improve and he responded: "I think I need to score more goals. All that will come, hopefully next season or the season after. Sometimes you’ve got to be in the right position at the right time and hopefully the ball will drop to me."

Lingard turns 25 in December and will probably reach the point where he is no longer considered a young player, as that would be the case at least in terms of the PFA voting for the individual awards each year. However, he still needs some convincing that will be the case! 

"Twenty-five!" he laughed. "When you say it like that, it sounds old - doesn’t it? Obviously then I won’t be classed as a young player but still some people might think I am a youngster. Maybe I look younger – that might be what it is! 

"I think 25, 26, 27 [are the peak years]. That’s when you start kicking on and you take all the past experiences into your game and learn from them. That process carries on, taking experiences into the next season, and, while you’re still learning, you can just carry on working hard."