Sesko 'turned off the lights' in Grimsby, Man Utd added new humiliation

Sesko disappointed in his first start at MU.

In the pouring rain at Blundell Park, the £66m signing showed his immaturity, while the Red Devils continued their downward spiral. Manchester United endured a night to forget. Knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Fourth Division Grimsby 11-12 on penalties, they were not only jeered by the stands but also saw a blockbuster signing like Sesko exposed serious limitations.

One match, many cracks

Given a starting role, Sesko had the chance to prove his worth as a true No. 9 after Rasmus Hojlund’s disappointing two seasons. But instead of an explosive performance, fans saw a faltering, unconfident striker.

The statistics after 90 minutes were truly brutal: just seven passes in the whole game, with an accuracy rate of 64%. Sesko had six shots, only two of which were on target and both were easily saved. His stoppage-time miss, when he fired over the bar from less than four metres, was a moment that left Man United fans frustrated.

Not a single key pass, not a single cross, not a single accurate long ball – nothing. Sesko lost 10 out of 12 duels, lost possession nine times, and was ultimately the last man on the outside of the area forced to step up to the penalty spot in the nerve-wracking shootout.

Sesko needs to work harder to adapt to English football culture.

At RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, Sesko used his size, pace and positioning to overwhelm defenders. But in England, even a League Two centre-back could shut him down. Grimsby defenders didn’t need to resort to tricky tackles; they just needed to be tough, close and wait for Sesko to make a mistake.

Here’s the fundamental difference: the Premier League and the English football system are much more intense than the Bundesliga, where Sesko used to score with ease. The physicality, speed and crowd pressure are challenges the 22-year-old striker is not ready for.

A system that does not help

The blame, of course, does not lie solely with Sesko. Ruben Amorim has thrown him into a system that is already crumbling. United are ineffective in possession, their midfield is fragile, and their satellites are not providing enough of the ball.

Matheus Cunha missed a penalty, Bryan Mbeumo scored an equaliser but then missed the decisive spot-kick. Three new attacking players worth nearly £200m - Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo - failed together, becoming living proof of the wastefulness and chaos in the club's planning.

Sesko needs time, but Man United don't.

The defeat to Grimsby not only knocked Man United out of the Carabao Cup, but also brought Sesko back down to earth after soaring expectations. English football is impatient. A striker who arrived for £66m cannot hide behind the excuse of “needs time to adapt” for too long.

The truth is that Sesko is a re-enactment of Hojlund: running a lot, fighting a lot but lacking the sharpness and confidence needed for a penalty box killer. Man United did not buy him to wait 2-3 years, they needed goals immediately. And Sesko's lackluster performance on his official debut only added to the team's disappointing record.

Sesko needs time, but Man United don’t. The defeat to Grimsby was just another sign that Amorim and his players are losing their way. For Sesko, it was a harsh “slap of reality”: the Premier League is not the Bundesliga, and at Old Trafford, failure is never forgiven.

If he doesn't adapt quickly, the £66 million blockbuster contract will soon become a new burden in Man Utd's long series of mistakes in the transfer market.

Source: https://znews.vn/sesko-tat-dien-o-grimsby-man-utd-them-noi-nhuc-moi-post1580725.html