Reserve or Core, Sesko is Crucial for Manchester United

MANCHESTER, SUNDAY — Young Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko has never wasted an opportunity to perform, whether as a starting player or a substitute. After being dubbed a "supersub" recently, he shone in his first chance to be a starter.

Sesko fully repaid the trust of the interim coach by including him in the starting eleven for the match against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, on Sunday (1/3/2026 WIB). The striker became the hero of the victory with a header that turned the score in favor of MU, 2-1.

Palace played with ten players from the 56th minute after defender Maxence Lacroix fouled forward Matheus Cunha in the penalty area. MU, who had initially fallen behind in the first half, equalized through a penalty taken by midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Sesko's goal followed in the 65th minute.

MU did not provide any space for the visiting team to adapt with ten players. Sesko's actions truly extinguished Palace's hopes of stealing points. After taking the lead, "The Red Devils" played more patiently, focusing on possession. The score held until the final whistle.

The goal by Sesko began with a precise cross pass from Fernandes. This cross pass scheme had been executed multiple times to target the tall striker, and it finally bore fruit. Fernandes played the role of creator, while Sesko became the executor.

"He is a very good player, we just want to make him more confident. He wants to develop, very aware that he needs to score goals every week for this club. Hopefully, he will score more goals from now until the end of the season," said Fernandes about Sesko.

The combination of Sesko and Fernandes is gradually becoming a lethal duo in MU's attacking line. Sesko has scored four goals in the last five matches. Two of those goals came from Fernandes' assists, including in the recent match. Fernandes seems to have a deep understanding of the positioning of the 22-year-old striker.

The most interesting aspect of Sesko in the match earlier was his placement as a starter. He was trusted to enter the first eleven of MU for the first time in the Carrick era. Previously, in the last five matches, Sesko had always appeared in the second half as a substitute player.

Regardless of that status, Sesko continues to exert a tangible influence. His four goals so far, in the Carrick era, have contributed an additional seven points for MU. Three of the striker's goals have secured victories for "The Red Devils," while one served as an equalizer.

Carrick stated that it was only right for Sesko to have the opportunity to play from the start. “(The decision) is not a gamble, nor is it a significant decision. Benjamin is in good condition and has managed to make an impact in recent weeks. He continues to learn how to play for this team,” he said.

Poor tactics

The match earlier also proved that Carrick is not a tactically poor coach who relies solely on one favored scheme. He altered the composition of his reliable attacking line by introducing Sesko. Sesko replaced winger Amad Diallo in the starting lineup.

Diallo's role, playing on the right wing, was replaced by Bryan Mbeumo. Sesko took over the spearhead role in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Carrick decided to play with a pure striker, no longer relying on Mbeumo, who was usually given the freedom to move outside the penalty area.

Carrick's objective is very clear. MU needs the presence of a striker in the opponent's penalty area. They are facing a team that often employs a low-block defensive strategy with a 3-5-2 formation reminiscent of coach Oliver Glasner. Standing nearly two meters tall, Sesko resembles a tower ready to dismantle the opponent's "bus parking."

It is evident that the placement of the pure striker has been quite successful. In addition to scoring goals, Sesko also had the highest number of shot attempts (4 times). His presence was strongly felt in the opponent's penalty area during his 75 minutes on the field. He was substituted by Diallo when the home team needed balance.

There is only one note regarding Sesko's performance as a starter. When encountering a deadlock, such as before the red card incident with Palace, Carrick must seek a new "supersub" from the bench. Until now, this role has been played perfectly by Sesko.

Thanks to the fiery performance of Sesko, MU is now enjoying a streak of seven unbeaten matches in the Carrick era. Six of these matches ended in victory. This result places "The Red Devils" in third place (51 points), overtaking their competitor for the Champions League zone, Aston Villa.

According to Glasner, Palace played better than MU, but Lacroix's red card disrupted his team's momentum. "When you are leading 1-0, then you are penalized with a penalty and a red card, it is very decisive. The foul actually occurred outside the box. Cunha is very clever," he said. (AP/REUTERS)