Teddy Sheringham Voices Concerns Over Benjamin Sesko's Manchester United Adaptation
Manchester United icon Teddy Sheringham has openly questioned whether summer signing Benjamin Sesko possesses the necessary confidence and mentality to thrive as the club's primary striker. The Slovenian international, who joined from RB Leipzig for a substantial £74 million fee, has experienced a mixed start to his career in English football.
A Promising Yet Underwhelming Start
Since his high-profile move, which saw United outmanoeuvre rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United, Sesko has demonstrated flashes of his potential. The 22-year-old has netted three goals in his last two starting appearances, including a brace in the recent draw with Burnley. However, his overall tally of five goals in 20 appearances across all competitions has been deemed somewhat underwhelming by many observers.
Under new interim manager Michael Carrick, Sesko found himself on the bench for crucial matches against Manchester City and Arsenal, with Bryan Mbeumo preferred as the starting centre-forward. This decision came during what many considered United's best performances of the season, raising further questions about Sesko's immediate role in the team.
Sheringham's Expert Analysis on Striker Pressure
Sheringham, who was part of a legendary United squad filled with formidable personalities after his 1997 transfer from Tottenham, understands the immense pressure that comes with leading the attack at Old Trafford. While acknowledging Sesko's technical ability and clever finishing, the Treble-winning forward highlighted a critical missing ingredient.
"I think he will be a good player. He's just not a great player at the moment," Sheringham told Metro. "Some of the touches he has had and some of the goals he has scored recently, they have been really nice and really clever goals. But you need the experience and he needs to get his confidence levels up to a real top player."
He elaborated on the unique challenges facing young strikers at the club, stating, "It makes it hard for him to lead the line as a young man at Man United, without a shadow of a doubt. He is a very good player but it takes a certain type of player to lead the line for Man United. The expectation levels are huge."
The Path Forward for Sesko at Old Trafford
The immediate focus for Sesko will be reclaiming his starting position, with United set to host Fulham at Old Trafford this Saturday. His recent goal-scoring form suggests he may be building momentum, but Sheringham's comments underscore that technical skill alone may not suffice at one of the world's most scrutinised football clubs.
Sheringham's assessment points to a broader narrative about player development at elite levels, where psychological resilience often proves as important as physical talent. As United continue their campaign, all eyes will be on whether Sesko can elevate his confidence to match his evident finishing ability and justify his substantial transfer fee in the long term.
