Ruben Amorim echoes Neville’s view on ‘awkward’ Sesko while plotting to avoid another Man Utd mistake
After Gary Neville chastised the Manchester United striker this week, Ruben Amorim could have easily defended Benjamin Sesko to the hilt.
Rather, he concurred with the pundit and supported the summer acquisition, demonstrating the kind of man-management Red Devils supporters will be hoping keeps the £66 million player from following his predecessor’s dismal route to oblivion at Old Trafford.
Neville stated during United’s 2-2 tie with Nottingham Forest last weekend that “he’s well off it” in comparison to other high-profile strikers acquisitions Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Sesko has two goals and an assist in 11 games for United.
“I’m no further forward with him,” declared Neville. The verdict is out. Compared to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the other summer additions Man United made up front, he’s well off.
“He has a few excellent opportunities in the first half when balls were played over the top, and his touch wasn’t quite right. He looks awkward.”
“You can say he’s young, has a lot of potential, and is just settling in for eighty million pounds, but you still want to see a little more.”
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As Arne Slot has stated in support of Florian Wirtz in particular this season, the usual reaction to such criticism directed at a young football player bought for a high transfer fee from outside is the need for time to adjust to the demands of the Premier League.
Instead of giving Sesko the get-out provision, however, Amorim supported Neville’s claim, saying the United legend’s remarks were “fact” rather than opinion. “I feel at ease.
When questioned about the striker’s performance, Amorim responded, “He’s not relaxed.” “I know how things work in football, and it’s normal for him to have difficulties.
“He has no prior experience here, and after hearing from Sesko that you are the next big thing and that you are so good, you arrive at the hardest club.”
You will hear a lot from commentators, journalists, and club legends if you don’t perform every week, and occasionally they are correct.
It is quite difficult for a young child, particularly one who is a control freak, to comprehend that this is typical while yet maintaining your level of confidence.
“He will not be able to manage everything, despite his desire to do so. Naturally, no one like hearing it, but it is a reality that he had some difficulties.
So let’s accept that. It’s not insignificant or personal. I try to explain that to the players. It’s not a personal matter.
In three weeks, this opinion will shift. In three weeks, everything that is true now can turn out to be false.
There are no disclaimers here, except from a brief mention of having “no experience.”
In essence, Amorim has gently reminded Sesko that he hasn’t been good enough to take criticism which every Manchester United player will see at some point in their Old Trafford career on the chin and acknowledge that attitudes, or even “facts,” can change quickly in modern football.
To understand how erratic the narrative can be and adopt a more laid-back attitude regarding his form, Sesko need only take into account how United as a whole has gone from crisis club to Champions League qualification hopefuls in the space of a month.
Should they lose to Tottenham on Saturday, they may very well be in crisis once more.
“So of course, it’s hard to hear,” Amorim continued. However, I tell Ben that once he gets acclimated to it, it will come naturally.
Here, it will resemble your Monday. Because Ben works so hard and we want to succeed, that is a part of the process, and we will support him and keep him safe.
Thus, he will be successful. “Ben has more potential than I realised when I started training with him. He will struggle, and in order to contribute our ideas, we must also comprehend how he enjoys playing.
“He will be our long-term striker.” However, he will encounter difficulties and setbacks along the way, which is a common occurrence in football.
Sesko, Amorim, and United will be desperate to keep him from following in the footsteps of Rasmus Hojlund, who was similarly hailed as “the next big thing” both before joining the team and for the majority of his first season at Old Trafford.
However, Amorim never gave Hojlund the same “striker for the long term” vote of confidence that he has given Sesko, whom the United manager is skilfully managing.
At least in public, by maintaining that he will be Manchester United’s “Man” while also agreeing with Neville over a long road ahead, thereby softening the blow of the pundit’s criticism.
