longer.blue

I’m fortunate to interview or edit the interviews of many ex-Premier League players in my day job. Almost all of them explain Benjamin Sesko and his situation as a matter of pressure and managing that pressure. Could it be that the most impressive part of the job Michael Carrick is doing at Manchester United at present, and the achievement that may have the greatest long-term benefit, is the restraint he is showing in not starting Sesko? Perhaps that sounds absurd. United spent a fortune on him in the summer to replace Rasmus Hojlund as the senior squad’s only true number nine. Sesko is scoring goals at last. Increasingly good goals too. He doesn’t start though. Carrick has stubbornly stuck to the same starting line ups as much as injuries allow. Patrick Dorgu, you are missed. It is a testament to Sesko that a role on the subs bench is not blunting his enthusiasm or impact. He is currently the quintessential game-changer. You can argue United couldn’t press from the front as they have done under Carrick with Sesko in place of Bryan Mbeumo. He demands a different kind of approach, although despite his height he is yet to look like the lightning rod you’d expect to attract and attack crosses. Sesko famously treats Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his role model but while he lacks the flair and presence and physicality of Zlatan he is similarly tall and broad while preferring the ball at his feet. He loves to mix in a few little feints and ornamental touches to indulge those who seek details. I had many doubts over Hojlund. I have zero doubts over Sesko. Come next season I expect him to be first choice, leading the line, and I think that will be down to Carrick whether or not he remains as manager. His unwillingness to let Sesko loose, retaining a tension between his impact off the bench and his increasing worthiness to start, is building a certain sort of focus, freed from the weight of the shirt. Expectations have shifted already. Sesko is now ahead of the narrative about United’s troubles with their number nines. The talk is of how much better they can look with him on the pitch. It’s the older or at least more established players who are starting who have to step up to the pressure of performing and delivering to justify themselves. Sesko arrives as the answer, not another question, and he looks more convincing with every game at present. He doesn’t put every chance away of course but gone is the fatalism over woodwork hit or chances skied. Carrick is giving Sesko just enough and Sesko is now contributing a fair bit more than that in return. He’ll grow into a player no longer seemingly so brittle in confidence as to need to be kept from the cold opens of the Premier League, although I’m sure he will have always argued he’s never needed such treatment.