Manchester United pals set each other private challenges to help deliver results for new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Thursday 7 February 2019 11:31, UK
Jesse Lingard has revealed how a friendly rivalry with team-mate Marcus Rashford has helped inspire Manchester United's form in the Premier League.
The pair have been instrumental to the club's turnaround under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who remains unbeaten since stepping in following Jose Mourinho's sacking.
Lingard says some of the improvement is down to a head-to-head competition the two pals have between each other.
"Marcus and me have been setting targets for each other, to challenge ourselves," he said.
"Obviously it's different aims, maybe in certain games it's how many shots, or this many touches in a game.
"It's just different random things, just to make you think and it's to kind of push each other because you want your friend to be successful as well."
Lingard also praised the impact of Solskjaer - and his number two Mike Phelan - and explained how their straightforward approach has put the spring back into the step of the players.
"He [Solskjaer] has just brought attacking football back again," he said.
"You know he's been there and done that, he's lived through it, he's been at Manchester United for years and years, so he knows how a Manchester United team should play.
"He's lived through all that and experienced it, and Mike Phelan as well - he's been great since he's come in.
"He's made the players realise what it means to be at Manchester United, and to put that shirt on.
"Everything is just clicking at the moment."
United travel to Fulham on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, where a win could see them leapfrog fourth-placed Chelsea, who play Manchester City 24 hours later.
Jesse Lingard was speaking at the launch of the Coca-Cola and Premier League campaign, 'Where Everyone Plays' and features in the new TV ad as Coca-Cola's newest ambassador. Watch the film in full here.
