Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar has hit out at Manchester United’s handling of Benjamin Sesko after the striker missed the end of the season with a shin injury.
The 2025/26 season has ended with Manchester United finishing third in the Premier League and returning to the Champions League.
It also marks the end of Benjamin Sesko’s first campaign at Old Trafford. The Slovenian striker missed the end of the season with an injury, but managed to score a total of 11 goals in 30 league games as well as one in the FA Cup.
Sesko’s injury means he will miss Slovenia’s upcoming friendly matches against Cyprus and Croatia.
Sum up Benjamin Sesko’s debut season for Manchester United in one word…
Bostjan Cesar frustrated over Benjamin Sesko’s injury
Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar is not happy with how United gave Sesko frequent minutes after the striker missed the March international break due to an injury.
An injury ruled Sesko out of the Slovenia squad for the March internationals to allow the 22-year-old to recover from a minor injury.
Sesko featured in United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in March – before the international break – only to recover in time to play in the club’s next fixture against Leeds.
However, Sesko has been absent since picking up a shin injury in United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool, when he came off at half-time.
That injury led to Sesko missing the final three games of the season.
“He missed the last assembly in March and then I kind of wanted him to be absent from United for a while, but then he came back quickly and I don’t think he missed a game for the club,” Cesar told reporters on Monday.
“But if a player hasn’t been in a competitive rhythm for a month, then I don’t see the point in him coming and playing at half-strength.”
The Slovenia manager added: “In cases of injuries, the national team receives all the documentation, and then we decide together with their doctors what is best.”
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar is upset with Manchester United over Benjamin Sesko’s fitness
- Sesko will miss Slovenia’s upcoming friendly matches
- It means Sesko has the summer off until pre-season begins
🔴⚪️⚫️Sum up the 2025/26 season for Manchester United…
A fourth highest points tally since Sir Alex Ferguson retired!⚡️
Benjamin Sesko gets break to recover for pre-season
Missing two international friendlies at the end of the domestic season is hardly an end-of-the-world scenario for Sesko.
It allows him to use the entire summer to recover and prepare for next season at United.
Given that Sesko missed United’s final three games of the season, Cesar’s reaction comes as a surprise. Maybe he hasn’t been paying close enough attention.
Anyhow, the priority is for Sesko to recover fully and come back stronger. Slovenia could benefit from that in the long term after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
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