Ouch! Imagine being a multi-million dollar striker, just starting at a legendary club like Manchester United, and then hearing club legends criticize your every move. That's the reality for Benjamin Sesko right now, and it's tough. Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim acknowledges the £73.7m striker's initial struggles, while also offering a crucial perspective: don't take the criticism personally.
Sesko's stats so far? Two goals in eleven appearances. His last goal was against Sunderland back on October 4th. And after the Nottingham Forest game, former United captain Gary Neville declared Sesko was "miles off it" compared to other new arrivals like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Strong words, right?
Amorim doesn't entirely dismiss Neville's assessment. He agrees there's truth to it. But here's where it gets controversial... He argues that Neville's comments lack the context of a 22-year-old adapting to a new league after only two seasons in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. It's a huge jump!
"I'm relaxed," Amorim stated, acknowledging that Sesko himself isn't feeling quite so calm. "I understand how things are in football and he's going to struggle. That is normal. He has no experience here."
Amorim highlights the pressure-cooker environment: "The first impact [is] when everyone says that you are so good, you are the next big thing and you hear that about Sesko. Then you come to one club that is the hardest club. If you don't perform every week, you are going to hear a lot of things from club legends, from pundits, from the media - and sometimes they are right."
"Of course, nobody likes to hear but he struggled a little bit, and that is a fact. So, let's embrace that."
And this is the part most people miss... Amorim emphasizes that it's not personal. "It is hard to hear but it's not personal. It's an opinion that is going to change in three weeks. Everything that is true today, in three weeks, could be a lie." In the world of football, fortunes can shift in an instant.
Reports suggest Sesko is putting in the extra work, spending a significant amount of time at United's Carrington training ground to understand the performance levels expected of him. He reportedly arrives well before the usual 9:45 AM meeting time and stays late, often past 4:00 PM, long after his teammates have left. This dedication speaks volumes about his commitment.
United sources remain confident in their decision to sign Sesko, even while Rasmus Hojlund, who they sent on loan to Napoli, has found the net four times in nine games for the Italian champions. It's a decision that's sure to raise eyebrows and fuel debate among fans.
"Ben is a young kid, a control freak," Amorim explains. "He wants to control everything - and he's not going to control everything." This highlights the challenges young players face when dealing with the immense pressure and scrutiny of top-level football.
"He has more potential than I was thinking [but] we need to understand how he likes to play and also to put in our ideas. I'm quite relaxed with that. He is going to be our striker for the long term but he's going to have these struggles and these bumps during the ride. That is a normal thing in football."
Looking ahead, United are set to face Tottenham, their first meeting since Brennan Johnson's goal sealed Spurs' victory in the Europa League final back in May. A painful memory for United fans, no doubt.
Interestingly, despite winning the trophy and securing a Champions League spot, Tottenham sacked coach Ange Postecoglou, who has since also lost his job at Nottingham Forest. A stark reminder of the ruthless nature of the sport.
Amorim himself has just completed his first year at United, a period marked by just 12 victories in 38 Premier League games. A less-than-ideal record, perhaps. But minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly stated that Amorim needs up to three years to fully implement his vision, and the board continues to support him.
"I said already, I'm really lucky to be here," Amorim said. "If you see the game, I think we deserve to win but it doesn't matter. It's hard to see a coach that wins a European cup go away and the other guy stays. But sometimes it's maybe [thinking] in the future to win more important titles. That's, I think, what Manchester United is thinking. Let's give time to the coach and see what's happening."
So, what do you think? Is Benjamin Sesko being unfairly judged? Is Amorim right to ask for patience? And what about the decision to loan out Hojlund? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! It's clear that judging players and coaches requires a nuanced understanding of the context, and knee-jerk reactions can often be misleading.
