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Benjamin Sesko has revealed that he welcomes pressure as a “privilege” because it indicates his quality as a player, following his latest match-winning heroics for Manchester United.
Red-hot form
Sesko came off the bench to secure all three points for the Red Devils in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last night. Despite the 22-year-old striker having scored five goals in his last six appearances, including the late equaliser against West Ham in United’s previous outing, Michael Carrick stuck with Bryan Mbeumo as a false nine through the middle.
Benjamin Sesko Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 22 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | – | 1,135′ |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 90′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 90′ |
| Total | 24 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 1 | – | 1,315′ |
Sesko had previously scored a last-minute winner against Fulham, as well as a brace against Burnley in a 2-2 draw, and a consolation goal in the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup third round. Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher was in charge for both matches after stepping into the role in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s explosive departure from Old Trafford.
Carrick was then handed the caretaker role on a permanent basis until the end of the season, taking over from his former teammate for the Manchester Derby and going on to secure an emphatic 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side.
Sesko did not play a single minute in the match, nor has the 44-year-old Englishman opted to start the Slovenia international in any of his six matches at the helm. However, a fine finish last night to put Everton to the sword has increased the clamour for Sesko to be unleashed against Crystal Palace this weekend, with Gary Neville claiming it “would kill the lad” if he remains on the bench on Sunday afternoon.
However, speaking in a post-match interview last night, Sesko struck a selfless tone, instead reiterating how much Carrick “believes” in him before going on to reveal he welcomes the pressure of being a Red Devil.
Selfless Sesko welcomes pressure
“We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me. They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins,” the striker stated.
Pressure was cranking up on the £74 million summer signing earlier in the season, after a slow start to life in a red shirt. But Sesko says the expectation to perform is simply a reflection of the quality people know he has.
“For me, the way I look at the pressure, it’s something that, if I want to be a good player, I have to have. I take it as a privilege,” he said.
“It’s something that has [to be there] if you want to play at the highest level, and it’s about accepting it and not really caring about it. For me, it didn’t really affect me [the pressure to score goals this season] and I don’t think for [Matheus] Cunha and Bryan as well.”
All three summer recruits – Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo – combined brilliantly to produce a scintillating counter-attack for the Slovenian’s winner last night. When asked about his relationship with the pair, Sesko said: “We are understanding each other. There is a lot on the training field where we are working a lot. It’s also the way Bryan made a pass [for the winning goal] because he saw that I was running, he saw that I wanted that ball.
“And obviously, with his quality to make a perfect pass because it’s also not easy to do that to put it directly there. That’s what it’s about, to have such quality in the team. Obviously, it looks so easy [to finish], but because you have so much time, many things are on your mind, but I chose one corner, and I went fully for that.”
Final Thoughts
One of the driving factors behind United targeting Sesko last summer was his mentality and work ethic off the pitch. These intangibles were as important as his ability on it, given how often big-money signings from abroad have failed at Old Trafford in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
To hear the 22-year-old frontman have no issue with Carrick limiting his minutes, to embrace the pressure of being a United star, and to praise his teammates when the spotlight was shone on him is exactly why the club’s hierarchy sanctioned the raid on RB Leipzig for him.
The fact he is now beginning to walk the walk and talk the talk should be a delight to every United fan, because the striker’s potential is as big as his imposing 6’5″ frame.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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