sport news Jesse Lingard reveals he turned to drink during Man United struggles trends now
Jesse Lingard has revealed how he 'was drinking to try to take the pain away' as his Manchester United career fell apart and he battled mental demons.
The England international footballer has opened up on how the pressure to perform, abuse from fans, and his mother's struggle with depression totally drained his enthusiasm for the game during the 2019-20 season.
'I was drinking before bed, having a nightcap. I look back now and think 'what was I doing that for?' But I needed something to try and take the pain away,' Lingard told "The Diary Of A CEO podcast in a candid interview.
England footballer Jesse Lingard opened up about his mental health and drinking problems
In a candid podcast interview, Lingard admitted he was 'drinking to try and take the pain away'
'I was trying to forget what was going on. But it makes it 10 times worse.'
Opening up on how his game and mindset was affected by online abuse, Lingard, who now plays for Nottingham Forest, admitted it became impossible to be his usual self.
'You're getting that much abuse, and I'm already down enough, and I've got to perform,' he said.
'I was still trying to be Jesse, like banter… banter jokes and all that but, of course it's going to affect me.
Lingard also opened up about how he struggled to focus on the pitch as his mother Kirsty (pictured with him, right) struggled with her own mental health battle
'I'm already going through things you don't know about… I felt like the world was on my shoulders.'
Lingard, 30, also opened up on his mum Kirsty's struggles with depression - she was admitted to hospital for treatment in 2019 - which left him feeling like games were 'passing him by.'
'The depression was so bad she couldn't really cope any more and she needed to go away and get help,' he said.
But leaving me with my little sister who was 11 at the time and my little brother who was 15, for me, I was still going through my own things as well.
