Lingard confirms Mourinho’s random FaceTime calls left him in stitches
The England playmaker enjoyed his best-ever season at Manchester United during Mourinho’s tenure at Old Trafford as he scored 13 goals during the 2017/18 campaign
Jesse Lingard has admitted that the random FaceTime calls he used to have with Jose Mourinho left him in stitches during the Portuguese manager’s time as Manchester United boss.
Lingard scored 20 goals and provided 11 assists for United under the guidance of Mourinho between 2016 and 2018, playing under the now Roma boss 107 times.
The Red Devils also won the Europa League and the League Cup under Mourinho during his second and final full season in charge.
Lingard has now lifted the lid on his “good relationship” with Mourinho, which included FaceTime calls, and praised his “special connection” with his players.
Jose Mourinho could offer Jesse Lingard a lifeline at Tottenham next season
“He also liked to have a personal connection with his players. Sometimes I’d look at my phone and I’d be getting a random FaceTime from him. Just out of nowhere — just to check in.
“I used to find it so strange at first. He’d call and be like, ‘Hey Jesse, what are you doing?’
“And I’d be like, ‘Erm, just chilling, watching TV … (awkward silence) … what are you doing?’
“Hahaha! I found it funny. And, to be fair, it showed how much he cared about us.”
Lingard found some of the best forms of his United career during Mourinho’s time at the club, scoring eight league goals in the 2017/18 season – his best United return.
He also scored in the club’s 2017 League Cup final victory over Southampton at Wembley and played in the Europa League final win against Ajax later the same year.
Lingard has struggled for the same opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in recent seasons, but rekindled his career during a loan spell at West Ham United last season.
Nine goals in 16 appearances for the Hammers earned Lingard an England recall and he has so far scored twice in six appearances for United this season.
