Jesse Lingard admits winning silverware with Nottingham Forest 'would be special.'
The 30-year-old was one of 23 players to reinforce Forest in the summer, after spending 22 years at Manchester United. In his time at the club, United went on to win seven titles - something he became accustomed to.
Now on Trentside, he hopes to achieve similar with the Reds as the resumption of domestic football nears. While his move to the City Ground may have comes as a surprise to many, he wants to repay the club back for making him 'feel wanted.'
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Lingard admits Steve Cooper and owner Evangelos Marinakis had a part to play in his move to the City Ground. He told the Daily Mail: "I’d left United and my future was up in the air. The owner said he’d lay on a plane and fly me to Greece so he could convince me of his vision.
"Steve Cooper said he’d come to my house and answer all my questions and talk me through the club’s plans. Those offers in themselves made me feel wanted. In the end, I didn’t need to go to Greece because I met the owner in London instead, and Steve met me too, and their eagerness persuaded me.
"[However], you always have it on your head that newly promoted teams can go down. But I look on the bright side and some stay up, stabilise and become established Premier League teams with new and higher goals.
"I know about Forest’s history and winning the biggest trophies and I want to do well and help them get back to that. We all have to accept that a team with 22 new players isn’t going to gel instantly, or even work out the style of play straight away. But the owner assured me he’d spend money and buy players, and we’re getting it together now."
Ahead of the Premier League restart, the midfielder shared his wish this season. "We are still in the Carabao Cup and in the FA Cup and while you’re still in a cup you have a chance of winning it," he added.
"That’s just how I see it. Winning any silverware with Forest would be special. It’s what we are hoping to do."
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