Sesko's Striking Revival Under Carrick Highlights Post-Amorim Transformation
The starkest improvement under Manchester United's interim manager, Michael Carrick, has been the Slovenian supersub Benjamin Sesko's attacking potency. Sesko's career at Old Trafford now breaks into two distinct periods, with a dramatic shift in performance following Ruben Amorim's sacking.
Before and After: A Statistical Transformation
In the first phase under Amorim, Sesko played 1,404 minutes of football and scored just two goals. Since the managerial change, he has played 274 minutes and netted six times. This translates to a goal every 702 minutes initially, plummeting to a remarkable goal every 45 minutes and 40 seconds under Carrick's guidance.
The transformation was immediate and undeniable. On January 4th, Sesko toiled in a 1-1 draw at Leeds, failing to register a shot on target, completing only 76% of his passes, and losing possession five times. The very next day, Amorim was dismissed. On January 6th, Sesko scored both goals in a 2-2 draw at Burnley.
The Tactical Thaw and Confidence Boost
While it seems unfair to compare the pleasant Amorim to a fictional villain, the thawing effect of his removal is palpable. The snows have melted, the flowers are blossoming, and players once frozen out are coming to life. Sesko himself spoke after scoring the winner at Everton about the crucial importance of feeling that "everyone believes in me."
This raises obvious questions about the previous regime. Did Amorim not rate him? Did he not want him? Or was he simply poor at conveying his plans to fringe players? The post-Amorim transformation was so immediate that Sesko scored three goals in his first two games under Darren Fletcher as interim manager, indicating this is not about Carrick being a specialist "Sesko-whisperer," but rather a systemic issue.
The fault lies not with Amorim, who was transparent about his rigid 3-4-2-1 system, but with the recruitment process that imposed him on an unsuitable squad. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the decision-makers overlooked warnings from then-sporting director Dan Ashworth, who left his role as a result. Amorim's biggest mistake was accepting the job in the first place.Sesko's Emergence as a £70m Talent
Until early January, Sesko looked the most questionable of last summer's big-money striker signings. At just 22, allowances were made, but his heavy touch and poor movement did not justify his £70m price tag. Now, he is beginning to resemble that valuation.
A simple video session with Fletcher before the Burnley game restored Sesko's basic faith in his abilities. His greatest gift is movement, excelling at making runs in defenders' blind spots, which brought both goals against Burnley. He got away from Kenny Tete to score against Fulham and in front of Axel Disasi for his stunning equaliser against West Ham.
His physical attributes are also shining through: strong in the air and rapid over medium-to-long distances, as seen in his confident, stride-filled break for the winner against Everton. While he remains less effective when given too much time to think, his instincts for finding space and finishing mark him as a hugely exciting talent, even if currently used mainly from the bench.
Broader Context and Future Implications
United's upturn does not fully justify spending £200m on three forwards last summer when other areas were deficient, but it at least suggests the money was spent on players with a future. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have also improved under Carrick, but Sesko's transformation is the most stark.
The situation echoes, yet differs from, the Ole Gunnar Solskjær experience. While some fans and pundits resist giving Carrick the permanent job regardless of achievements, the current revival is qualitatively different. In 2019, decent players were diminished by toxicity; this season, there were genuine doubts about the squad's quality. Carrick has shown that picking players in their best positions, restoring ostracised talent like a promising young midfielder, and instilling confidence can make a monumental difference.
Nobody can pretend Manchester United's background problems have vanished, but the tactical winter is over. Benjamin Sesko, with his frolicking runs and clinical finishes, has become the vibrant avatar of this post-Amorim spring at Old Trafford.
