Jesse Lingard’s United Story

Hitchez

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Beautiful article.

No 90m signing will ever be as satisfying as a homegrown player making it through the ranks and helping us win trophies. Hope he keeps up his upwards trajectory and makes himself unstoppable (if he isn't already).
 

Web of Bissaka

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Lingard have "that mentality".
"When we started the full-time MANUSS programme, we were obviously discussing which players would be selected, because obviously not everybody on our books could make it. Jesse’s name came up all the time and people – not within the football club but in general – were saying that he was so small and delicate, he might not be able to cope with the training and so on and so forth. But Jesse made you want to sign him up. His attitude and his personality made it happen."
Good respectable character towards the coaches.
"There was a big gap between him and the older boys, so in some of the games he didn’t play, simply because he wouldn’t have been able to get around the field and cope with the physical demands. He understood that. The thing about Jesse is that he was able to get his head around it and deal with it, and trust us to get it right.

"We had to not play him in certain games, play him in others and bring him off to rest him at times, but he was able to deal with that. Some players just can’t get their heads around it. Jesse did. It wasn’t easy, but he had the patience, intelligence and trust in the coaching staff to know that those decisions were made in his best interests, that we were keeping him in cotton wool because we knew at some point he was going to grow. At some point all that ability would be able to come out."
His qualities.
"It’s testament to Jesse’s resilience, determination and strength of character that he has been through all that and played his way into the England squad. To overcome his lack of physicality, to have the patience and determination to recover from that, and to then dig in and come back from such a serious injury, all of those things show outstanding qualities.

"Jesse has great technical ability, athleticism and intelligence, of course, but people who think becoming a footballer is all about talent are wide of the mark. Of course you need talent, but you also need a strong character, resilience, a willingness to just dig in at times and deal with disappointments and adversities. He’s overcome all those things and in the end, that’s where it all comes together."
Wembley Hero :devil: 2016 FA Cup Final.
"What a goal, by the way. That superb technique and timing had been there when he was just a kid. We’d seen that kid grow up through the Academy, seen his talent nurtured, seen it come through and come to fruition, and we’d just seen the ultimate expression of that talent in an FA Cup final with a sensational, dramatic winning goal. The kid from Warrington had won the Cup. It’s very, very humbling in that moment to think: 'I know that boy, and he knows me.' And that’s part of the charm of Jesse’s story as well: it includes a lot of people.

"The trophy was important, of course, but for a lot of people at the club, it was more than that. Jesse’s winner gave everybody in the Academy a great lift. It made us feel so proud of him as a person because we understood what his journey had been and what sacrifices he’d made, how he’d overcome his injury. The fact that he’s the boy he is, well, that was the icing on the cake.
As a source of inspiration, and inheriting tradition.
"We would hope that Jesse's example inspires other players in the Academy. We can point to them and say that it wasn’t that long since he was sitting where you’re sitting, doing the same things you’re doing, up to all the same tricks and mischief, making the same mistakes you’re making, and he worked his way through it and got on with it because at the end of the day he wanted to be a footballer, wanted to pay the price, make the sacrifice. That’s the thing: some people want to be footballers or achieve things in life, but they’re not prepared to actually make the sacrifices, do the hard work that people don’t see. He was certainly prepared to do that, no question.

"After Sir Matt Busby came to the club in 1945, Manchester United was predicated on the development of homegrown players. Jesse’s success is following in the footsteps of the Busby Babes, the Class of ’92, and that line, that legacy, is continuing, and he’s one of the gems in it.
 

Pexbo

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Just reminded me of Larnell Cole who the club treated in a similar fashion. Obviously Larnell never made the step up like Jesse did though and is now at Tranmere. I’ve no idea how he’s getting on there but it would be interesting to see if he’ll blossom late like Jesse has.

It’s great that the academy doesn’t overlook players that are under 6 foot and haven’t started shaving by the time they’re 13. McTominay is another lesson there although he’s a bit of an outlier in terms of physical development. His stretch marks must be crazy.
 

roonster09

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Very good read. Like few said it's very satisfying when one of the academy graduate goes on to become good player for senior team.
 

Utdstar01

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Just reminded me of Larnell Cole who the club treated in a similar fashion. Obviously Larnell never made the step up like Jesse did though and is now at Tranmere. I’ve no idea how he’s getting on there but it would be interesting to see if he’ll blossom late like Jesse has.

It’s great that the academy doesn’t overlook players that are under 6 foot and haven’t started shaving by the time they’re 13. McTominay is another lesson there although he’s a bit of an outlier in terms of physical development. His stretch marks must be crazy.
I loved Larnell, was just as talented as Jesse was and it' a shame he couldn't make that step up.
 

EyeInTheSky

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Great Article and props to Brian McClaire:

"When we started the full-time MANUSS programme, we were obviously discussing which players would be selected, because obviously not everybody on our books could make it. Jesse’s name came up all the time and people – not within the football club but in general – were saying that he was so small and delicate, he might not be able to cope with the training and so on and so forth. But Jesse made you want to sign him up. His attitude and his personality made it happen, and it’s to Brian McClair’s eternal credit that he supported the decision to bring Jesse in.
 

EyeInTheSky

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Just reminded me of Larnell Cole who the club treated in a similar fashion. Obviously Larnell never made the step up like Jesse did though and is now at Tranmere. I’ve no idea how he’s getting on there but it would be interesting to see if he’ll blossom late like Jesse has.

It’s great that the academy doesn’t overlook players that are under 6 foot and haven’t started shaving by the time they’re 13. McTominay is another lesson there although he’s a bit of an outlier in terms of physical development. His stretch marks must be crazy.
Shame that Jose has now made it policy that anybody under 6 foot is not allowed in the academy.

Breaks my heart :(
 

OldTrevil

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Good read. Seeing a talented player grow and given a chance for the first team is great, Jesse went through all manner of ups and downs before finally establishing himself in the team. A very good and inspiring story.
 

Tapori

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I know we always get carried away, but with Chong and Gomes and hopefully Tunazebe and a host of others pushing through, it looks very promising for us.

I guarantee you Mourinho knows that if he can bring through youth properly and win with them, it will cement his legacy. Don't underestimate that.