Carrick’s Vision for Sesko: Navigating Challenges and Building Potential

In the aftermath of the derby, it would have been typical for Carrick to acknowledge standout players like Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. However, he chose instead to focus on Sesko, embracing him at full-time and reassuring the young striker that he would soon become an integral part of the team and experience further victories at Old Trafford.

When asked about Sesko’s inability to maintain momentum from his previous matches, Carrick was swift to clarify. “I don’t think it’s losing momentum,” he stated. “It was a team selection tailored to the opponent last week. I believe Ben is in a good place; he’s been training exceptionally well. We are dedicated to enhancing his skills as much as possible.

“I’ve been genuinely impressed with his training, particularly his finishing and approach. I view this as a stepping stone for him, using his recent performance over the past month to secure a long-term role here.”

While we await the line-ups for the impending match against Arsenal to confirm Carrick’s statements, he was eager to highlight that his choices in the game against Manchester City were strategic. This raises hopes that Sesko might start at the Emirates Stadium or receive significant minutes off the bench.

“It’s about leveraging the unique strengths of each player. I allowed Bryan some freedom last week in partnership with Bruno, encouraging him to explore different spaces. Ben excels in playing on the last line and making runs behind defenses, as evidenced by his recent form after scoring.

“Matheus also made a considerable impact by driving the game forward in the later stages and contributing to the second goal. We have solid options available, and we felt that was the right approach last week, which thankfully proved successful.”

In his first press conference since resuming his role as United’s coach, Carrick emphasized his commitment to improving individual players, a key metric for assessing his success in the position. He remarked, “A significant part of what I enjoy is enhancing individual talents. Ultimately, improving individuals leads to a stronger team.”

Sesko is arguably the player who requires the most development. The Slovenian has been under considerable scrutiny since his teenage years. United had shown interest in him as a 16-year-old before he opted to join RB Salzburg. His association with Salzburg has inevitably drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland, who transitioned from the Austrian league to the Bundesliga.

However, Sesko’s career trajectory has not mirrored the rapid ascent of Haaland, despite performing decently at RB Leipzig, where he netted 14 goals in his first season and 13 in his second. In contrast, Haaland scored 13 goals in half a season with Borussia Dortmund, followed by 27 in his first full season and 22 in the subsequent one, despite injuries.

Concerns arose regarding Sesko’s lack of Premier League experience and modest goal-scoring record, leading some to question if he could significantly improve upon Rasmus Hojlund. These apprehensions were validated in his initial weeks, as Sesko grappled with the challenges of the Premier League and the intense scrutiny at United.

Coach Amorim appeared cautious, opting not to start Sesko against Arsenal or Fulham. While he played the full 90 minutes against Grimsby, it raised eyebrows that he was positioned as the team’s 10th penalty taker in that match. Following a substitute appearance against Burnley, Amorim revealed that Sesko had suffered cramp after the Grimsby match, making a starting position too risky.

Sesko finally scored against Brentford and followed that with another goal against Sunderland. Yet, he found himself back on the bench in his subsequent match against Liverpool. He returned to the starting line-up against Brighton and Nottingham Forest but struggled notably in the latter, drawing criticism from pundit Gary Neville.

“He’s miles off it compared to other forwards United has signed, such as Cunha and Mbeumo,” Neville remarked. “He appears awkward; his touch falters at times with long balls. For €80m (£73.7m), while he’s young and still adjusting, we expect to see more.”

Amorim attempted to defend Sesko shortly after but, in his typically candid fashion, his comments also seemed critical. “When I began training with Ben, I realized he had more potential than I initially thought. He’s going to face challenges, and we need to understand his playing style while integrating our ideas.

“He lacks experience in this environment, and the pressure of being labeled as a future star can be overwhelming. If performances don’t meet expectations, he will face scrutiny from club legends, pundits, and the media. Some criticisms may be valid, and it’s essential to acknowledge that he has faced difficulties. Ben is a young player, and he has a strong desire to control every aspect of his game—but that’s not always possible.”

Despite Amorim’s tough love approach, results were limited, and a knee injury sidelined Sesko for a period. Upon his return, he started four consecutive matches but failed to find the back of the net. Amorim’s strategy of utilizing him as a link-up forward did not yield the desired results.

He squandered several good opportunities in Amorim’s final game at Leeds, struggling to connect with teammates. However, after detailed discussions regarding movement with Fletcher before the next match against Burnley, Sesko flourished, scoring twice and registering eight shots. Carrick should adopt a similar strategy, focusing on optimizing Sesko’s strengths rather than forcing him into a rigid system.

Though Sesko was not included in Carrick’s first match, the new coach has indicated that the striker will play a significant role in his future plans. Only time will reveal the effectiveness of this approach, but Carrick’s supportive demeanor suggests a more personal coaching style than his predecessor.