Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has been dubbed the ‘English Andres Iniesta’, by former coach Rene Meulensteen. And not for the first time…
The Englishman came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford but initially struggled to get his first-team opportunity, making just one senior appearance for the club at the age of 21.
Is Lingard at the same level as Iniesta? Five key things to know…
- Lingard has scored 29 goals in 157 games for Man Utd.
- The 22-time England international has helped the Red Devils to three major honours while reaching the World Cup semi-final with the Three Lions in 2018.
- Andres Iniesta was crucial to Barcelona between 2002-2018, making 674 appearances as the Blaugrana won nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
- Meulensteen believes Lingard’s quick feet and football brain are similar to that of the Spaniard.
- Lingard himself has admitted to Iniesta being a major inspiration to his style of play.
Since the 2015/16 season, however, Lingard has become a key figure for Man Utd, scoring 29 goals in his following 156 games and helping the club to win three major honours.
His contribution to the Red Devils’ success has seen Lingard pick up 22 caps for the England national team, and Meulensteen, a coach at Man Utd between 2001/2006 and 2007/2013, claims that Lingard always possessed the qualities of a Sir Alex Ferguson player.
Ferguson’s former assistant told 888sport: “Sir Alex always had a clear picture of what a good player looked like and they had to have quick feet, quick brain, and a big heart.
“That is basically everything that Jesse had but he was very slight for his age. I worked with him from the age of eight or nine and taking him abroad for tournaments and he was always having to fight battles because he was of a tiny build.
“But all things level themselves out and eventually those three things make a difference – quick feet, a quick brain, and a big heart. And he has done every so well.
“The fans always need to associate themselves with players who have come through the ranks.”
The Dutchman then went on to draw comparisons between Lingard and Barcelona icon, Iniesta: “While I was there and Sir Alex was there it was so important to keep bringing young players through.
“The difference with Jesse is that he was always the English version of Iniesta. He can play in the pockets, he’s very mobile and very agile.
“He can beat a man and he’s good in combination play. The last few seasons he started to score important goals as well.”
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Lingard admits to Iniesta inspiration
This isn’t the first time Meulensteen has compared Lingard to Iniesta, having done so previously ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and also four years ago.
And although he refused to specifically validate that claim, Lingard did admit the Spanish playmaker has been a massive inspiration to his style of play.
“I used to watch Iniesta a lot, I liked him,” Lingard said ahead of the World Cup. “You just pick up little things of what they do and try to put it into your game.
“It’s just the way [Iniesta] graces the pitch, he’s silky, an intelligent footballer.
“People have said I’m an intelligent footballer, so I have to learn off the other players that are intelligent and play in the same position as well.”
Lingard and his Man Utd teammates travel to Fulham in their next game.
Host Jake Entwistle is joined by Sam Long and Will Hall for this week’s Squawka Talker to discuss Man City 3-1 Arsenal, the Bundesliga title race, Gonzalo Higuain’s start to life at Chelsea, the best of the rest beyond the ‘Big Six’ and the upcoming El Clasico.
The post Jesse Lingard billed the ‘English Andres Iniesta’ yet again appeared first on Squawka News.
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