Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has revealed a unique insight into his relationship with ex-manager Jose Mourinho, describing the Portuguese coach as "chilled" and sharing how he would receive FaceTime calls from him while at the Lowry hotel.
Lingard, who played under Mourinho at United from 2016 to 2018, made 107 appearances during the manager's tenure. The England international recently shared with The Independent that Mourinho would casually FaceTime him from his hotel room, asking about his activities - a gesture that Lingard says significantly boosted his confidence.
"Mourinho was so chilled sometimes. He used to FaceTime me from his room in the Lowry [hotel], ask me what I'm doing. I thought that was a real confidence boost," Lingard recalled. The midfielder also highlighted the importance of that period leading up to the 2018 World Cup, where he found himself regularly featuring in Mourinho's team selections.
The trust placed in him extended beyond club football, with England manager Gareth Southgate showing similar faith in his abilities. "Going to the World Cup, you're not expecting to start. But Gareth Southgate had a lot of faith in me from a young age, and I played every game," Lingard explained.
However, Lingard's career trajectory took a different turn following Mourinho's departure from Old Trafford. He struggled to maintain his form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which led to a loan spell at West Ham. After his United contract expired, he had a brief stint with Nottingham Forest before making a surprising move to FC Seoul in Korea.
Despite being far from his family, Lingard has found renewed happiness in his Asian adventure. "Even though I'm far away from my family and my daughter, last year I had a blast," he shared. "My daughter and family came out. It was good. Sometimes it's good to just get away and have a little bit of change. I'm still happy playing football, no matter where I am."
The former England international's journey from Manchester United to FC Seoul represents a significant change in his career path, but his recent revelations about Mourinho offer a fascinating glimpse into the more personal side of one of football's most prominent managers.
