Manchester United spent big on Benjamin Sesko, and are yet to see a great return from the forward.
There was a lot of excitement when Manchester United won the race to sign Benjamin Sesko ahead of Newcastle in the summer transfer window.
But as United fans have learned to understand over the past decade, there is a difference between ‘winning in the transfer market’ and ‘winning on the pitch’.
Benjamin Sesko’s initial return for Manchester United has been a meagre one.
Who was the Man Utd man of the match in the defeat at Villa?
A positive performance despite the loss… who stood out for you?
Benjamin Sesko struggles in Manchester United defeat
Benjamin Sesko had to battle to get up to speed after missing out on Manchester United’s pre-season.
He was beginning to make positive strides in late September and early October, when he scored his first two goals for the club, against Brentford and Sunderland.
Sesko subsequently picked up an injury, and he was making his first start since then, in the game away at Aston Villa.
In the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park, Sesko struggled to make an impact, and missed his one big chance in the first half when he shot straight at Emiliano Martinez.
There was another opportunity too, where instead of shooting, he attempted to take the ball round the goalkeeper, and it ended up going out of play.
Sesko managed only 16 touches in total, completing just seven passes.
It was not a game he will remember fondly at all.
What did you think of Benjamin Sesko’s performance vs Villa?
Were you surprised he was taken off despite United needing an equaliser?
Amorim decision was a brutal one
Ruben Amorim‘s lack of faith in Benjamin Sesko was laid bare by his decision to substitute the forward after 77 minutes.
This was despite United trailing 2-1 and looking for an equaliser.
Amorim felt that Sesko was not an essential part of the team’s late efforts to get back into the game, and this was a brutal decision to have to take.
Yes, this could partly be attributed to Sesko’s fitness, but it underlines the stop-start nature to the forward’s season, and another tough afternoon.
What is your instant reaction to Man Utd’s defeat at Aston Villa?
Surely we would have won that with a fully fit squad?
United fan concern over Sesko
Manchester United fans were concerned about the move for Benjamin Sesko in the summer, because he was another developmental signing.
Following the failed £64 million move for Rasmus Hojlund, United spent £66 million on Sesko.
Whether Sesko is better than Hojlund is currently unclear. If he is, the difference is marginal at best.
Sesko may have a far higher upside, but he needs to prove it. He will get time, but he’s clearly not the finished product.
For the amount of money United spent, you would expect a top finisher. Sesko has netted just twice, and blew his big chances against Villa.
He is clearly another long-term project, and this was the concern United had.
This is not a case of signing a clinical forward like when Sir Alex Ferguson snapped up Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2001.
Sesko has it all to prove – but at United, time waits for nobody.
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