Manchester United’s headline signing of the 2025 summer got off the mark at Old Trafford last weekend, and he did so with the striker’s instinct fans have been hoping to see.
A long throw routine by Diogo Dalot went over the head of Casemiro, Leny Yoro, and Mattijs De Ligt, all worthy targets, but found the foot of Sesko at the near post. It was the forward’s second goal in as many games.
It was, however, the striker’s only shot of the match.
A lack of service to the striker is nothing new for United
in the past few seasons. Rasmus Hojlund struggled to get the ball in dangerous areas even when he was scoring goals in his debut season, and now that he’s banging them in every game in Serie A perhaps it warrants a look at United’s chance creation.
The team is lacking in that area with Bruno Fernandes playing deeper and outnumbered in midfield, and of United’s new No. 10’s, only Bryan Mbeumo seems to have a creator’s touch.
Mbeumo is tied with Mohammed Kudus for most crosses with 14 through seven matches this season, but Kudus has four assists, whilst Mbeumo has just one, coming on Saturday with Mason Mount controlling and firing a high cross from the right wing.
Additionally, Bruno Fernandes has seven crosses with no assists, and Amad has five with no assists. Patrick Dorgu and Dalot both struggle providing from out wide as well.
A common pattern under Ruben Amorim is to feed the wingbacks in the areas where most teams want their most talented creators. Whether building an attack or resetting play, Amorim’s Reds push wide to put the ball back in. It hasn’t been the most effective strategy, which may be surprising when you have a 6’5 striker who dunks basketballs in the offseason.
Attacking through the air is more complicated than that, though. His teammates often hit their crosses too late, when a crowd has gathered and the onus is on the cross placement to find the right head.
While Sesko is certainly an aerial threat, he has also shown good ability in hold-up play and strength to hold off defenders. He is quick as well, and has a decent touch, traits worthy of a style of play that plays more ambitious passes, and quicker passes, than United has shown under Amorim.
This isn’t to say it can’t work with Amorim, but the slow build-up is brutal at times. Whether there is just an adjustment period with a new player, or indeed a new front three entirely, or there was an awkward early fit, Sesko has to keep his head down and keep adapting to his teammates as they adapt to him. Get him invovled, and get him the ball in more spaces than just crosses, and see what your new forward can do when you trust him on more than just aerial duels.
Like every sport, improvement takes repetition, and with Sesko beginning to show his eye for goal, it’s time to get him on the ball more.
