Gary Neville has claimed that he was ‘not sure’ about Jesse Lingard not celebrating his goal during Manchester United’s 2-1 win at West Ham on Sunday, as he told his own Instagram Live.
This was the first time Lingard was returning to the London Stadium, after his six-month loan spell last season, and it just had to be him who scored the winning goal for Manchester United.
In a drama-filled game, Lingard came off the bench to a standing ovation and scored a typical, yet wonderfully executed curling effort against the Hammers.
Minutes later, David Moyes’ side were awarded a penalty, after Luke Shaw was punished for a handball, with Mark Noble coming off the bench to see his spot-kick saved by David de Gea.
A crazy script that just couldn’t be written and one that probably ended up in Lingard’s winning goal, against his former club, being overshadowed by the actions in stoppage-time.
Neville shared that he would have been celebrating ‘right in their face’ of the West Ham supporters if he was in Lingard’s situation, but that’s because he ‘didn’t have much respect’, as he admitted.
“Jesse Lingard’s recovery from the other night in Europe is absolutely wonderful,” said Neville. “I think Jesse should have left the club in the summer, so he played 45-50 games a season.
“I do think he is a fantastic player. I thought that he would get limited time at Man United. But that was a brilliant moment for him today.
“Not sure about not celebrating against West Ham, personally. He played for them for about five minutes. He has been at Man United since he was ten, I am sure you can celebrate a goal.
“I suppose that’s a little bit of respect. I didn’t have much respect really, to be fair, anyway. I would have been celebrating and got right in their face.”
It may have been heartbreaking for West Ham supporters to see Lingard punish them in such a fashion, but it just goes to show how much that loan spell in East London has benefited him.
At the end of the day, this time last season, Lingard wouldn’t have even been spoken about possibly going to Euro 2020.
And there is no way the West Ham faithful were thinking of Europe because they had just survived relegation during the previous campaign by the skin of their teeth.
But this was a prime example of two parties needing and suiting one another at the right time, and getting the best out of each other.
Lingard has put his name back on the map, whilst the Hammers are enjoying their trips to Europe.
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