English midfielder on aiding Corinthians, on visit to Parque São Jorge | OneFootball

On the evening of last Wednesday (11), English midfielder Jesse Lingard, 33, was officially presented as the newest Corinthians player. Alongside president Osmar Stabile and football executive Marcelo Paz, the player received the Corinthians shirt with the number 77, which he will wear during his time at the club.

A product of Manchester United's youth academy, the athlete joins Corinthians as a free agent after a stint with FC Seoul in South Korea. There, he scored 19 goals and provided 10 assists in 66 matches. He signed a contract until December 2026, with the possibility of extending it for another year. During his presentation, he spoke about topics such as his arrival at the club, how he can help the team on the field, his view of Brazilian football, the possibility of more English players coming to Brazil, the pressure and anxiety of playing for the Alvinegro, and adapting to São Paulo.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Check out Jesse Lingard's answers from the press conference below:

Arrival at Corinthians

“I am eternally grateful to Marcelo (Paz), the president, and the coach for bringing me here. It’s a great honor for me. For me, this is about evolution, it’s a new chapter in my career. Obviously, I came here to win titles, I think that’s the main thing. At a club like Corinthians, the fans’ expectations are very high. So, for me, that means even more pressure to win trophies, but I like pressure.”

How he can help the team on the field – positioning

“On the field, I’m always happy. I like to create chances, score goals, and provide assists. At the same time, I’m a player who works hard. I run for my teammates and do whatever it takes to win the game. I think that’s important because, throughout my career, I’ve always managed to adapt to different situations and matches. My running stats have always been good, so playing 90 minutes week after week won’t be a problem.”

“As I said, on one hand, it’s the technical ability and intelligence to read the game and understand my teammates, that’s something I’m good at. And, if I can contribute with assists, goals, and help the team, that’s the main goal. I think it depends a lot on the team’s formation, but I’ve always been a versatile player, able to play in various positions. I can play on the right wing, as an attacking midfielder, as a center forward, or even on the left wing. So I believe the decision depends more on the formation the coach wants to use. On my part, I can adapt to any position in the front line, to be honest.”

How do you see Brazilian football?

“Yes, as I said before, I didn’t follow the Brazilian league much, but since the possibility of coming here came up, I started watching some games, especially Corinthians matches. As I said, it’s a physical, intense football, but at the same time also very tactical. For me, now it’s a matter of adapting to the coach’s style of play. We’ll talk about that, about the position I can play and the way the team plays. In the end, it’s up to me to adapt to how he wants the team to play.”

“No, I already knew that Brazilian football was big. As I said, this will be a new experience for me. I believe I can adapt to different situations, so adapting here won’t be a problem. I’m calm, motivated, and really eager to be on the field and help the team.”

On being the first Englishman to play in the Brasileirão

“To be honest, I didn’t know I was the first English player. I only found out a few weeks after I was already here, which is obviously a great honor. Of course, I had heard of the league before. I knew it was a big championship, with strong teams that compete at a high level. That’s also why I was interested in coming here.”

“I’m sure this can open many doors for other foreign players to come and play here. As some teammates have already told me, I’ll really enjoy my time in Brazil, even more so because nobody likes to lose. So, for sure, this can help pave the way for more European players as well.”

How do you see Europeans coming to Brazil and Corinthians as a good opportunity to win titles?

“I feel that football is always evolving, always changing. Many people were surprised by my move to South Korea. But, as I said, sometimes I don’t want to stay in just one place and get comfortable. I prefer to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.”

“Coming to Corinthians, one of the biggest clubs, with the goal of winning titles, is part of that. I’m very motivated. I had several offers on the table, but I still wanted to keep playing at a high level, come here and win. I think it also depends a lot on the player and each one’s mentality. In my case, the decision was to come to one of the biggest clubs in Brazil to win trophies.”

Pressure and anxiety playing for Corinthians

“Corinthians is the biggest club, it’s part of the soul of Brazil. The pressure is always there, and so is the expectation for victories. Of course, that doesn’t happen all the time. From what I’ve heard, the fans sing the whole game, whether winning, losing, or drawing. For me, I like that pressure and that expectation. I’ve experienced that before in my career. As I said, I came to help the team and win titles in the end.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about and also seen many videos of the Corinthians fans at home games. As I said, I’m really eager, hungry, and motivated to be on the field. I want to play alongside my teammates and enjoy the atmosphere. I’ve heard the atmosphere is really amazing. I’m sure it will be a special feeling to finally see the fans, feel that support, and also receive their affection.”

Adapting and conversations with Memphis Depay

“Yes, I already really like São Paulo. I’ve been here for about a week and a half, almost two weeks. I’m already adapting well. I visited the favelas yesterday, and it was an incredible experience to see the communities and the people. I think it’s always important, when you go anywhere or to different countries, to get to know the culture and live that experience.”

“Memphis has also been helping me a lot. I’ve known him since our time at Manchester United. When I arrived, he said I could count on him for anything. I can always talk to him or send a message. We’ve even gone out to dinner together, so I’m sure he’ll show me many other places.”

Extensive game calendar

“For me, that’s not a problem. I think the more games and competitions we play, the greater the chances of winning titles. The more matches, the better for me. Last year, at Seoul, I played almost 70 games, so that’s not an issue. Of course, we have a big squad, so there will certainly be a lot of rotation. As a player, you want to play every match and help the team. I even prefer when there are games every three days. Recovery is very important, as well as nutrition and sleep. The key is knowing how to take care of your body after a game to be ready for the next one.”

What are you like off the pitch?

“Personally, I’m happy. I always like to bring good energy and good vibes, whether in the locker room with the team or off the field. Since I was young, I’ve always been a lively person. I also like fashion and have my own YouTube channel. As I said, I’m a happy and humble guy. I want to do my best for my family, because that’s very important to me. They’ve been with me since day one, so I want to do this for them. Being here is a special moment. At first, it takes time to get used to, learn the language, and adapt. But I’m sure you’ll see the real Jesse Lingard very soon.”

Current physical condition

“I’m reaching my best physical condition. Training has been intense and also very good. I’m already training with the group and, of course, adapting. I’ll need to adapt quickly. At the moment, there are still some documents to arrive, and my team along with the club are taking care of that. But I hope to be available for the next match.”

Visit to Parque São Jorge

“I think it’s impressive how many titles Corinthians has won. I already knew Corinthians was a big club before coming here, but when I visited the memorial, I realized the size of this greatness and how many trophies there are. I also got to know the club’s history better. For example, that 23-year period until the 1977 title. I only learned about that later, I didn’t know before choosing my number. There’s a lot of history around Corinthians. And, as I said, when you arrive at a club like this, you want to help build more history, winning titles and leaving a legacy.”

Iconic celebration, like Flaco López’s, and Michael Jackson’s move

“The celebration came about around 2017. I was trying to think of a hand gesture that would represent my initials, something that looked like a ‘JL’. After trying a few ideas, I ended up with this gesture. At that time, I was also really into celebrations. I’ve always loved music and was inspired by some dances I saw. Michael Jackson has always been a big inspiration for me, one of my favorite artists. I know pretty much all his songs and choreographies.”

“When you score a goal, you have to celebrate. Scoring a goal is an incredible feeling. You want to celebrate with the fans and your teammates. For me, celebration is part of football, it’s part of the joy of the game and also entertaining those watching. Yes, I saw that. I saw it a lot on social media. Maybe he saw me do the gesture and, of course, his initials are also JL (José López). So, for me, it’s no problem if he wants to do it too. But, as I said, I did it first. Anyway, if he wants to use it, it’s up to him, but it will always be mine (laughs).”

Experience and background from English football

“I think it’s mainly the experience. After spending so much time in the Premier League, you gain a lot of experience playing with great players over the years. As I said, experience is very important. Last year, at Seoul, I became captain, so I can also take on a leadership role within the team.”

“At every team I’ve played for, I like to help the younger players. I think it’s important that they understand the game — the physical part, the formations, the tactics — and that’s not just about what happens on the field, but also off it. It’s also essential to build a good relationship off the field, because that ends up helping a lot on the field.”

Last seasons in Korea

“As I said, discipline is key. Becoming a free agent is quite complicated. I knew that, at some point, I would sign with a club, but I didn’t know when that would happen. After my time in Korea, I spent the first few weeks with my family, enjoying the holidays. Then I traveled to Dubai for a training period of two to three weeks. Then I went back to England and continued training with my fitness coach for another two or three weeks.”

“For me, the most important thing was to maintain discipline. I knew that, when a club came for me, I needed to be ready from the start. And, of course, coming to Corinthians, the season had already started a few weeks before, about four weeks, so I knew I needed to be prepared. Whether in Europe or Brazil, I know I need to arrive ready to start immediately.”

Conversations with the coaching staff

“I was going to talk to the coach yesterday after training. Somehow, we both ended up forgetting. But I’ll talk to him during the week. That way he can hear what I think and I can also hear what he thinks. For me, obviously, playing as a number 10 is a position I played for two years in Korea. I also have no problem playing on the left wing, but I think, to get the best out of me, probably the ideal position is as a number 10. In terms of formation, it could be a 4-3-3. I also don’t mind playing in a freer midfield, coming from the left, or even on the left wing, depending on the system. So I believe that’s how you can get the best out of my game.”

Injury history?

“To be honest, I haven’t had many injuries throughout my career. And, regarding artificial turf, for me it’s not a problem. I can play on artificial turf, natural grass, sand, or even on the beach. It makes no difference to me.”

Are you aware of the relationship between Corinthians and Corinthian Casuals?

“No, is it Manchester United? Oh, yes, I wore the scarf. Yes, yes. The Corinthian-Casuals. I’m here. It’s something I see in England. Oh, I see. I’m learning, I’m still learning (laughs).”

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.