Manchester United's Jesse Lingard opens up on mental health problems and almost quitting football

Jesse Lingard is back in the England squad after rediscovering his form - but his situation looked bleak just months ago. Credit: PA

Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard has revealed how close he came to taking time out from football as he dealt with mental health problems and his mother’s depression.

Lingard spent almost two years in the wilderness at Manchester United and struggled for form in his increasingly rare appearances for the first team as he struggled to cope with his mum Kirsty’s condition.

But the 28-year-old looks a player reborn after temporarily joining West Ham on loan in January, scoring nine goals in 10 matches and winning back his England place.

Lingard, who comes across as a bubbly, carefree character on and off the pitch and is known for flamboyant goal celebrations, has opened up about the dark days he suffered at Old Trafford.

Jesse Lingard has been in excellent for for West Ham United. Credit: PA

“I could have easily quit in lockdown.

"I could have been like: ‘Nah, I don’t want to do it, I quit, I give up’.

"But the fight in me always brings me back to life,” said Lingard in an interview to kick off the first series of Youtube-based talk show Presenting.

“Not quit football, just have a time-out, really.

"I was going into games happy sitting on the bench, and that’s not me.

“My mind wasn’t there, I wasn’t focused at all.

"I was thinking about other things, and obviously bottling it all up trying to play football, you’re tense, you’re stressed and you can’t do it.

“There were some days where I used to have a game at 8pm and we’d go to the hotel in the afternoon, I’d sleep from two until four, shut my curtains in the dark, and then wake up in the dark and you don’t get any sunlight.

“So I was advised by the doctors, as soon as you get up in the morning, jump out of bed, open the curtains and even the little things can really change your attitude.”

A World Cup semi-finalist in 2018, Lingard’s form dipped alarmingly soon after and having lost his place with club and country, the forward finally opened up to United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.

But Lingard, who has been at United since he was a boy, had not started a Premier League match for more than a year when Solskjaer agreed to loan him to West Ham because “he deserved to play more”.

Now Lingard’s infectious personality is back on show with his stunning form spearheading West Ham’s unlikely Champions League push, a far cry from when he was at the depths of despair.

“It feels like you’re not the same person, I feel like I wasn’t Jesse Lingard,” he added.

“Even in football matches, I felt like the game was just passing me by, like I just didn’t want to be there, it was crazy.

“I could see myself playing but watching the game back I’m thinking ‘that’s not me, that’s not how I play’.

"You go from the World Cup to some performances I’ve seen myself playing, and something needed to change.

“I opened up to United and told them what I was going through, what my mum was going through and they’re always there to help.

"I’ve had other doctors that have helped which has been brilliant and during the lockdown I got my head together.

“I feel lockdown has transitioned me in a way.

"I watch my old games back, the World Cup games and the old games I used to play and I think ‘yeah, that’s the real Jesse Lingard’.

“The time that I had going a couple seasons back or last season, it just wasn’t me at all and you can see that.

“My brother, who lives with me, he could see that and he’s got a video of me literally laying on the couch and I’m just staring for three minutes into thin air and he’s just thinking ‘what is he going through? He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders’.

“When I finally opened up and everyone understood it was like, ‘oh, that’s why’, so now it’s just me getting my head back together, football and helping my mum, and I don’t have time for anything else really.”

Who to contact if you or someone you know needs help

  • Samaritans operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year, by calling 116 123. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org

  • Papyrus offer support for children and young people under the age of 35 over the phone on 0800 068 41 41 between 9am – midnight every day of the year. If you would rather text you can do so on 07786 209697 or send an email to pat@papyrus-uk.org

  • Rethink Mental Illness offer practical advice and information for anyone affected by mental health problems on a wide range of topics including treatment, support and care. Phone 0300 5000 927 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-4pm) or visit rethink.org

  • Mind also offer mental health support between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. You can call them on 0300 123 3393 or text them on 86463. There is also lots of information available on their website.

  • Campaign Against Living Miserably's (CALM) helpline and webchat are open from 5pm until midnight, 365 days a year. Call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 or chat to their trained helpline staff online. No matter who you are or what you're going through, it's free, anonymous and confidential.