Lingard: We want to utilise our strong bond

Having returned to the club in the summer following his loan spell with West Ham, Jesse has had the opportunity to reunite with his United team-mates in the dressing room, and on the pitch, where he has already netted twice this season. 

The 28-year-old is now one of the more long-standing players in the first-team squad and will have no doubt played his part in helping to integrate some new faces into the current group over recent months. 

Since his return from that loan spell in the capital, over the second half of last season, the Reds have signed Tom Heaton, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, while welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club. 

Jesse has been excited to help welcome the quartet to Old Trafford and with them now adjusting to life at United, he reports that the group as a whole has gelled well and possesses a great spirit. 

“Everyone has bonded really well,” Lingard said in an interview with club media, first seen in last weekend’s Everton edition of United Review, our official matchday programme. 

“The new signings have come in and settled straight away. 

“We go for dinners outside of football, which is good for team bonding and is good for getting to know one another on a personal level as well.”

When speaking in the programme interview, our no.14 said he hopes that close bond off the pitch will stand us in good stead on it during the rest of this season. 

Lingard highlighted the quality he believes the group has, from what he has seen on matchdays and in training so far in this campaign.

“It’s one of the best teams I’ve played in,” he admitted.

“The attacking and defending part of the team is up there with the best. 

“It’s just about clicking, doing the right things, scoring lots of goals and entertaining the fans, and of course winning games – that’s the main aim.” 

The Reds have continued to come together despite a trickier period on the pitch of late, and although recent results have not quite been what the group have set out for, Jesse says that the team will continue to put in the work while looking to thrive off that consistent pressure to perform, something that comes with the territory at Manchester United. 

The midfielder is targeting a strong response upon our return to action later this month, following the international break.

“We’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and, when we get beaten, we’re one of the worst teams in the world, and then we’re the best team in the world again! It’s always been like that, ever since I’ve been in the team,” he said. 

“It’s huge pressure putting on the shirt, but we want that pressure and we’ve been in worse situations in the past. 

“We’re still at the start of our season and we’re up there near the top of the table in the league, and we have the chance to prove ourselves as a team and show what we’re about in the games coming up, because they’re big games for us.”