Michael Carrick shares reasoning for benching Benjamin Sesko after point-saving heroics vs. West Ham | OneFootball

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has revealed why Benjamin Sesko started on the bench for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Sesko saves United

Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser broke West Ham hearts and rescued a point for United, ensuring Carrick remains unbeaten since his arrival as Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement.

United were widely seen as the favourites to win the contest but they were stunned shortly after the break when Tomas Soucek fired the hosts into the lead.

The Red Devils struggled to break West Ham’s low block and it seemed they were destined for a loss after Casemiro’s goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.

However, Sesko had the final say, meeting Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery with a deft touch to guide the ball home with a stunning finish.

Carrick spoke to reporters after the final whistle and gave his thoughts on the performance and result, while also detailing why Sesko did not start another game.

Carrick’s post-match presser

Carrick told reporters, “Mixed feelings. We know we weren’t quite at our best and credit to West Ham for that a little bit, closing tight spaces, but I think we can be better.”

“The boys are frustrated and disappointed with that, which is a really good sign for me. And then finishing with a late goal when we’ve got to find one is a good moment and another positive for us to know that we can do that, but we don’t want to pull on it and use it too often.”

“I think in the grand scheme of things, it’s a point – something we can take. We can dust ourselves down a little bit and assess it. But then take these games over a five-game period and have just one draw in there, I think is a big positive.”

On throwing in attacking substitutes late on, Carrick said, “It’s always worth it to try and get something from the game. I have to say, credit to Leny [Yoro]. His two bits of defending, one vs. one, defending the counter-attack, which we knew he’d have to do at times when we throw bodies forward – I thought those two moments when he’s blocked were huge moments and he deserves credit for that to then give us a chance to go and get the goal and get something out of the game.”

“We had moments. Josh [Zirkzee] had a chance. Casemiro obviously had a chance. I haven’t seen it, but it must have been close, and then big moment for Ben [Sesko].”

“We had to go for it. We had to try and get something from the game and credit to the lads to keep going.”

On Sesko being named on the bench again, Carrick explained, “Yeah, it’s always the balance. I think the boys have done fantastically well, [those] who’ve played as well. That’s the importance of the whole group and the squad. I’ve said it to them after every game. I only say it because it’s important and as I said, Leny came on and made a big difference for us tonight in big moments.”

“And then Ben scored again. Ben’s doing a lot of work and he’s in a good place. He’s ready to kick on and it’s just managing…the balance, you know. We could have changed things a little bit earlier. That’s obviously the decision; we’re always trying to make the right one. We were having a spell in the game where we thought we might come back into it and then Casemiro’s goal.”

“So it’s a balance and then when he came on the pitch he made the big difference.”

Carrick continued, “We know how hard it is to put a run together in this league. Every team shows that. It’s not easy to build and win every game. Sometimes you’ve got to pull on different things. Sometimes it comes naturally, and it flows and everything clicks and you look really dangerous, and there’s a spark.”

“Sometimes it’s more difficult and you’ve got to find the answers, find a way. We prefer to do it with a clean sheet, if we’re really at it. We’d have a clean sheet and give us a chance of winning the game, that’s the frustrating one really – with the goal that we conceded, from a flow that was in their corner.”

“But sometimes football throws things up and you’ve got to do it. As I said, in the grand scheme of things, we managed to take something from it and we move on.”

Carrick labelled Sesko’s finish an “unbelievable” one, lauding the Slovenian’s ability to get his shot on target from a tight angle. The United head coach insisted that Sesko has been replicating such fine moments in training, so the striker’s quality does not surprise him.

Asked about Kobbie Mainoo, Carrick said, “I just think he plays his role in the team, Kobbie. He’s playing next to Casemiro and they’ve got a really good partnership and they kind of complement each other.”

“Basically as a midfielder, you’re trying to connect the team and bring everything together, with the ball or without the ball. He’ll take the ball everywhere and he’ll connect the whole team. He’s not always going to be the one with the final action but he’ll start all our moves. He’s having a big impact on the team at the moment, which is great to see.”

Carrick stressed the importance of “managing the game” and “having control” against a side like West Ham, whose pace makes them a constant threat on the counter.

United have a 13-day break until their next game and Carrick confirmed that he will keep the players in Manchester rather than go for warm-weather training.

Featured image James Fearn via Getty Images

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