Sesko criticized for 'not being ready' for Man Utd's 2-2 draw with Tottenham
Berbatov and Defoe believe Benjamin Sesko is “not ready” after coming off the bench and leaving the game with a knee injury in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham; Man Utd confirm further tests are needed.
The 2-2 draw with Tottenham ended bitterly for Benjamin Sesko: he came on as a substitute, played less than 30 minutes and then left the field with a knee injury. Immediately after, the Manchester United striker received harsh reviews. On Premier League Productions, Dimitar Berbatov and Jermain Defoe both said Sesko was “not ready”.
Turning point: the tackle with Micky van de Ven
Sesko’s turning point came in a confrontation with Micky van de Ven. Berbatov pointed out that the striker missed a chance against the Tottenham defender, and was injured shortly afterwards. According to the former striker, the situation showed that Sesko “wasn’t ready to come on at full speed”. Berbatov admitted that Van de Ven’s tackle was excellent, but stressed that a sharper striker could have handled it better.
Professional perspective from Berbatov and Defoe
Berbatov analyzed that the key lies in confidence and feeling for the game: when entering the field late, the limited time forces the striker to immediately get into the rhythm. With Sesko, both of these factors were not at the necessary level, clearly exposed in the key move against Van de Ven.
Jermain Defoe echoed this sentiment, stressing the mentality of a substitute: always ready to make an impact immediately. He pointed out Sesko’s “fatal weakness” in that situation was his “first touch”, which prevented him from finishing. “When he watches it back, he’ll be disappointed,” Defoe commented.
'Top speed' and the value of the first touch
What the two former players talked about revolved around two core concepts of a striker coming off the bench: extremely high tempo and quality first touch. Berbatov used the phrase “top speed” to describe the immediate demands of the game; Defoe summed it up in the precision of the first touch. Both felt Sesko failed to meet these two requirements in the day Man Utd drew with Tottenham.
Man Utd worries: knee injury and need for tests
Regarding the personnel situation, coach Ruben Amorim confirmed that Sesko has a problem with his knee and will need further tests to determine the severity. "We need Ben to become a better team," the coach emphasized, showing Man Utd's concern at the prospect of losing an important attacking option.
Immediate impact on Man Utd's attack
In a tight game that ended 2-2, a striker coming on and failing to make an impact and then leaving the pitch injured leaves Man Utd short of rotation options at the crucial stage. From a psychological perspective, what Berbatov and Defoe have pointed out – confidence and touch – will be the next test for Sesko, alongside a medical on his knee.
Message sent after 2-2 against Tottenham
The conclusion from the two former strikers is not to condemn, but to set a standard: a “number 9” must be ready when called upon. For Sesko, the answer on the day Man Utd drew 2-2 Tottenham was not complete. The rest depends on two factors: the health of the knee after the test and the ability to meet the demand of “top speed” when the opportunity comes again.
