Sesko needs time to adapt to English football.

08/11/2025 07:42:00 TrophyTracker

Benjamin Sesko is enduring heavy pressure at Manchester United just months after his summer transfer.

Since his £66 million move from RB Leipzig to Old Trafford, Sesko has managed only 2 goals in 10 Premier League games for MU.

Is Sesko a poor signing?

The sparse statistics have made Sesko vulnerable to criticism. After MU's 4-2 victory over Brighton, former legend Gary Neville criticized Sesko's coordination despite the Slovenian striker registering his first assist. Following the 2-2 draw with Nottingham, Neville again labeled Sesko as "clumsy," stating he remains unconvinced by the 22-year-old player.

This season, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have both made strong impressions since arriving at MU. This has unintentionally made Sesko a target for comparison and criticism. Gary Neville even stated, "Sesko is far behind other MU newcomers like Cunha and Mbeumo."

Statistics from the Nottingham match reveal Sesko had 21 touches, 13 passes, zero shots on target, zero successful dribbles, and zero duels won. Given MU’s draw, Sesko’s criticism is understandable.

However, it should be noted that while Mbeumo and Cunha are already familiar with the Premier League environment, Sesko still requires time to adjust.

If we rely only on statistics, it would be easy to conclude that Sesko is following the same path as Hojlund, who is currently on loan at Napoli. But in the bigger picture, Sesko’s goal count this season is only behind Mbeumo (4 goals) and Casemiro (3 goals).

Remember that MU had a poor start this season. Within a squad facing many problems, it’s difficult for a new Premier League player to make a significant impact. Even Cunha has scored just once in 9 appearances for MU but has not been criticized, while Sesko has faced pressure.

Former Newcastle coach Alan Pardew remarked, "I think it’s still too early to evaluate Sesko. It appears to be a normal adjustment period for a new striker, right? Sometimes starting, sometimes on the bench, not enough playing time yet."

Benjamin Sesko has only scored 2 goals in the Premier League this season.

Be patient with Sesko.

In fact, Sesko was only MU’s fourth choice target for a striker in the summer of 2025. The primary target for the "Red Devils" was Liam Delap, who has a £30 million release clause, but MU ultimately paid more than double that to secure Sesko, who is only four months younger than Chelsea’s striker. Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres wanted to join Arsenal, and Aston Villa refused to release Ollie Watkins, so MU chose Sesko as the only viable option.

MU’s sporting director Jason Wilcox recently stated, "When Sesko plays as the main striker, he will become a great player. It’s tough to play as a central forward at MU. I know Matheus and Bryan sometimes get a lot of praise, but Sesko’s off-the-ball runs help them a lot."

There are reports that inside MU, there is strong belief that Sesko "fits the system much better" than Hojlund. Coach Amorim is reportedly very pleased with Sesko’s training attitude, as he is always eager to learn and improve.

Last season, Hojlund struggled in one-on-one duels, which meant MU rarely could rely on him as a focal point in attacking plays. In contrast, Sesko has adapted well to the physical style of the Premier League.

Sesko’s arrival has given Amorim more tactical flexibility, allowing the team to play more directly and utilize his ability to hold up the ball when needed. Sesko’s ball retention and shielding skills are clearly superior to Hojlund’s and are an underrated aspect of his game.

Recently, former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann made a notable comment about Sesko: "He is always confident, with strong belief in his abilities. But joining a club in trouble makes it very difficult for a striker. I think Sesko has done quite well so far, but we definitely haven’t seen his best version yet because he’s a special talent."

Given his potential, Sesko deserves more time. He needs support from teammates and guidance from coach Ruben Amorim to truly shine in the Premier League.

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