Lingard centre of attention for Mourinho
JOSE Mourinho suggested Jesse Lingard‘s man-of-the-match display against Swansea was down to a change of position.
The United academy graduate played in a more central role as part of a 3-5-2 formation and scored twice to down the Swans and earn a Carabao Cup quarter-final berth.
Lingard was used as a playmaker in the defeat by Huddersfield, and has previously featured out wide for United.
But Mourinho hinted that his free role at the Liberty Stadium, which allowed the 24-year-old to roam as a second striker alongside Marcus Rashford, was key to his success.
The United manager, whose side will find out their quarter-final opponents today, said: “Jesse played well and played with a lot of freedom.
“We tried to give him good protection behind with the experience of Ander Herrera and strength of Scott McTominay.
“We played with two strikers with a lot of enthusiasm and it was a good dynamic. We are trying to defend our cup to the maximum, we can and now we go to the quarterfinals. “We are happy.” Lingard has made 13 appearances for United this season, netting three times and recording two assists.
He said: “I feel great, it was a great team performance. I thought we controlled the game tactically to bounce back from the weekend. The last time [I scored a header] was on loan at Brighton against Leicester.
“It’s a different way of scoring for me but I enjoyed the moment.”