Jesse Lingard (34, Corinthians) was once again on the chopping block. There was no turnaround on the Brazilian stage. Rather, the criticism only intensified.
Spanish outlet AS reported on the 7th (KST), "After SC Corinthians' 0-1 loss, an effective 'witch hunt' against Lingard is continuing," it reported.
Corinthians recently lost 0-1 to Internacional. With the team having fallen to 16th in the league, the atmosphere is at its worst. Fans' anger is directed at the coach and the entire squad. At the center of it are Memphis Depay and Lingard.
In particular, the attention toward Lingard is harsh. Lingard started that match and played 72 minutes. He did not record a single shot. He completed only one successful dribble. As a forward, he had no presence at all.
Fans also turned their backs. A Corinthians fan criticized on their social media, "Jesse Lingard was always this kind of player. The most ordinary player ever." The post spread quickly, and mockery and criticism toward Lingard continued.
AS noted that Lingard's career itself has always swung between expectation and disappointment. During his Manchester United days he briefly showed flashes of talent and was expected to be the team's future. He actually once made his presence felt with the England national team and on the Premier League stage. However, he ultimately did not become a definite starter or a clear star.
The outlet assessed that the expression "eternal prospect" fits Lingard best. He repeated loans and transfers, and in 2024 he took on a new challenge at FC Seoul. He sought a rebound in the K League, and wearing the captain's armband he settled into Seoul quite successfully. He later moved to Brazil's Corinthians, but the situation worsened. The Seoul team Lingard left is running atop the K League with evaluations that its balance of offense and defense is nearly perfect.
Corinthians are seeking a rebound under a new manager. There is still much of the season left. AS also saw that Lingard still has an opportunity to revive his career. If he can raise his performance under the new manager, he could once again change the flow.
But the current Lingard is different. The criticism outweighs the expectations. Mockery follows more than hope. His time in Brazil is ultimately flowing in a direction that is not much different.
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