Challenges and Optimism: Sesko’s Adjustment at Manchester United

The summer brought immense anticipation as Manchester United invested over £200 million in a new attacking lineup featuring Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.

While Mbeumo and Cunha have made impactful starts, Sesko’s performance has been less impressive, with only two goals in 11 appearances across all competitions.

Such struggles have led United legend Gary Neville to question whether Sesko is a worthy investment for the club, which has a storied 20-title history.

In a recent discussion on NBC Sports following United’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Neville remarked: “I’m no further forward with him; the jury’s still out. He’s far behind the other forwards United brought in, like Cunha and Mbeumo. He appears awkward, and his touch has faltered at times with long balls. For £80 million, he is indeed young and still settling in, but more is expected.”

Despite acknowledging Sesko’s adjustment difficulties since his transfer from the German league, United head coach Amorim has urged his player not to internalize the critiques from club legends too deeply.

Amorim offered insight into Sesko’s work ethic, stating: “I’m at ease, but he’s not. I understand the realities of football; struggles are natural. He lacks experience in this environment. When you are labeled as the next big thing, coming to a high-pressure club like this means that if you don’t perform consistently, scrutiny from legends, pundits, and the media will follow—and sometimes they are correct.

“It’s tough to hear, but it should not be taken personally. His performance may alter perceptions in just a few weeks. What’s true today may indeed be false tomorrow.

“Ben is a young talent with a desire for control; however, not everything can be controlled. He possesses more potential than I initially believed, but we must align his playing style with our strategies. I remain optimistic about his future as our long-term striker, even though he will encounter challenges along the way. Such experiences are commonplace in football.”

Sesko will look to alleviate the pressure during United’s upcoming league match against Tottenham on Saturday. This will mark the first encounter between the two clubs since the Europa League final in May, where Spurs triumphed 1-0, ending their 17-year trophy drought against Amorim’s squad.

Nevertheless, United heads to North London with renewed confidence, having completed a four-match unbeaten streak in the league. Currently ranked eighth, just a point behind sixth-placed Tottenham, the Old Trafford side recently achieved three consecutive victories over Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton, followed by last weekend’s draw with Forest.

Previewing the match against Spurs, Amorim stated: “Our squad is certainly improving. We are winning games due to enhanced training and better game understanding. Our consistency in results is more reflective of the squad as a whole than just the starting XI.”