Former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood has provoked a furious reaction from fans after doubling down on his criticism of Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko, despite the Slovenian scoring twice in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Burnley.
Sherwood Stands By Controversial Claim
Speaking on Sky Sports, Sherwood insisted that the 22-year-old, £74 million summer signing from RB Leipzig is not of the required standard for Old Trafford. His comments came after Sesko netted his third and fourth goals for the club with two clinical second-half finishes at Turf Moor.
"I stand by what I said. He's not good enough to play for Man United," Sherwood stated post-match. "He's turned up for one game against Burnley who are going to get relegated." The pundit had earlier suggested at half-time that Sesko should have been substituted by caretaker manager Darren Fletcher.
Fan Fury and Fletcher's Defence
Sherwood's remarks ignited a storm on social media, with supporters branding his analysis a "disgrace". One fan demanded his punditry credentials be "whipped off you and incinerated", while others criticised his refusal to acknowledge the striker's contribution after his match-changing brace.
In stark contrast, Fletcher heaped praise on the 6ft 5in forward. "I sat down with him yesterday and showed him videos... I thought he was fantastic tonight," the interim boss revealed. "Hopefully they start flooding in from now. It was a real positive night for him."
Fernandes Substitution Highlights Deeper Issues
Sherwood also pointed to the 60th-minute substitution of Bruno Fernandes – who made an early return from injury to provide an assist – as evidence of United's underlying problems. "When Bruno went off I think they lost control... They're well short of quality, Man United, they really are," he argued.
Fletcher clarified that removing the captain was a pre-planned move to manage his fitness, confirming he will remain in charge for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Brighton before a permanent interim manager is appointed.
The draw leaves United struggling in the Premier League mid-table, but the performance of their record signing offered a rare bright spot, even if one prominent pundit remains wholly unconvinced.
