Benjamin Sesko saves Man Utd against West Ham: It's time Michael Carrick got his act together.
Sesko's goal in the 90+6th minute saved Man Utd from defeat against West Ham, while also raising serious questions about Matheus Cunha's starting position in the Red Devils' attack.
The 1-1 draw at London Stadium against West Ham not only ended Manchester United's four-game winning streak under Michael Carrick, but also exposed a troubling paradox in their attack: the stark contrast between Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. While one played poorly for over an hour, the other became a savior with his incredible killer instinct.
The disappointment named Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha, the star player entrusted with a starting role by Michael Carrick, had a very disappointing 69 minutes. Despite having 36 touches, the Brazilian striker's statistics were a complete failure: 0 shots, 0 touches in the opponent's penalty area. His expected goals (xG) plummeted to a low of 0.01.
Cunha was completely out of place in the center-forward role. He frequently dropped deep to link up play but proved ineffective in front of Hermansen's goal. The striker's lack of space-seeking instinct left Manchester United's attack completely ineffective in finding a way past West Ham after the early second-half goal.
Benjamin Sesko and the definition of a modern "number 9"
Michael Carrick's patience ran out in the 69th minute when he decided to substitute Cunha for Benjamin Sesko. In just 21 minutes on the pitch, the 22-year-old Slovenian striker redefined what a target striker should be. Despite having only five touches – one-seventh of Cunha's – Sesko had a tremendous impact with three touches in the penalty area and two shots on target.
The highlight came in the 90+6th minute, receiving a cross from Mbeumo, Sesko executed a spectacular one-touch flick, sending the ball straight into the top corner of the net. This was a piece of skill from a top striker: decisive, sharp, and technically brilliant. Sesko's expected goals on target (xGOT) reached 0.48, far surpassing the player he had just replaced.
The personnel problem for Michael Carrick
The contrast between Sesko and Cunha lies not only in the statistics but also in their footballing mindset. While Cunha plays as a withdrawn striker but lacks creativity, Sesko is the modern target man, always knowing how to be in the right place at the right time to finish off opponents.
This draw helped Man Utd maintain their fourth-place position in the league table thanks to Chelsea's slip-up, but it served as a stern warning to Michael Carrick. Following Sesko's explosive performance at London Stadium, the English manager needs to make a fairer decision about who should take on the leading role in attack.
Instead of keeping Cunha in his position, Man Utd should perhaps consider using Sesko from the start against opponents who play a deep defensive game to take advantage of the former RB Leipzig star's ability to exploit space and hold up the ball. Conversely, Cunha's speed and technique would be more effective against teams that tend to control possession and push their lines high.
