Benjamin Sesko: ‘Pressure is an opportunity’ at Manchester United
Benjamin Sesko stated that he must accept the pressure associated with playing for Manchester United if he aims to thrive at Old Trafford.
Since his £73 million ($99m) transfer from RB Leipzig during the summer, Sesko has been in the limelight.
The 22-year-old faced criticism after beginning his United tenure with only two goals in his initial five months at the club.
However, following a resurgence with six goals in his last seven matches — including the decisive goal against Everton on Monday — Sesko acknowledged the need to adapt to the scrutiny.
“For me, the way I perceive pressure is that if I aspire to be a good player, it’s something I must embrace,” the striker remarked.
“I view it as a privilege. It’s an element that must exist if you wish to compete at the highest level, and it’s about accepting it and not being overly concerned with it.”
United’s interim manager Michael Carrick faced requests to start Sesko at Everton after the Slovenian forward came off the bench to net the equalizer against West Ham.
Once again named on the bench at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, he was brought on early in the second half and scored 13 minutes later.
Having scored in consecutive matches, Sesko is poised to start for the first time under Carrick when Crystal Palace comes to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Nonetheless, he emphasizes that his focus is not on the number of minutes he plays, but rather on maximizing their impact.
“We are discussing, of course, but [Carrick] has faith in me, everyone has faith in me, and they are preparing me to start as soon as possible,” Sesko explained.
“It’s more about me stepping up when it matters; regardless of how many minutes I receive, I am concentrating on performing and assisting the team in achieving victories.
“I’m not even contemplating ‘I need to start, I need to start.’ If I get the next minutes, whether it’s five minutes, I will utilize them, and for me, it’s about enjoying and contributing to the team.”
Sesko’s performance has been crucial to the resurgence under Carrick.
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Five victories and a draw from his six matches in charge have propelled United into fourth place, ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the pursuit of Champions League qualification.
“Everyone is supporting one another, and I have mentioned numerous times that the coaching staff as a whole, not just Carrick, but also the others alongside him, are exceptional,” Sesko stated.
“They are focusing on individual players, and you can observe that on the pitch.
“Ultimately, winning so many matches and accumulating points comes down to details, and that’s how we secure all these points.”
