United legend gives amorim attacking warning | OneFootball

Amorim Faces Selection Headaches as Sesko and Ugarte Come Under Scrutiny

Derby Looms Large for United

Manchester United’s season could pivot on this weekend’s trip to the Etihad, with Ruben Amorim confronted by several key decisions that will define both the derby and the wider trajectory of his first campaign in charge. This is not just a tactical challenge but a test of how quickly United’s new-look side can find rhythm.

Amorim has reshaped his squad since arriving, but questions remain over whether the blend is right. The club spent £18.2m on Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens on deadline day, a move that has seen Andre Onana depart on loan to Trabzonspor. The 23-year-old could be handed his debut in the derby, a bold call given the stakes.

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Sesko Needs Patience

Benjamin Sesko has yet to ignite as the focal point of United’s attack, and Nicky Butt has urged the club to manage expectations carefully. “I think he’s going to need time. I think that’s why Hojiund…I think he got let down a little bit when he came in. He was a young player coming in; it’s like history repeating itself, really, but he had no one around him to help him out,” Butt told Mirror Football via BetMGM.

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Butt added: “I just hope they’re not making the same mistake with this player, because he’s only young, had no experience in the Premier League, and I think that’s where I would have liked maybe Ollie Watkins or someone coming in to Man United, who’s been there, seen it, knows the league, can help a young player.

“So I hope they don’t expect him to come straight into the football club and go and hit the ground running and scoring goals. Certainly, obviously, everyone wants him to do that, but it’s a really tough ask to go into that football club and have a young player who has no experience to go in.”

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Those words will resonate with a fanbase that has seen talented forwards struggle under the weight of expectation. Sesko is powerful and mobile, but this is a different stage, and Amorim must balance the need for immediate results with the development of a player signed for the long term.

Ugarte’s Struggles Continue

Manuel Ugarte, brought in to anchor the midfield, has also come under heavy criticism. Former Scotland international Craig Burley did not hold back on ESPN, saying: “Manuel Ugarte is just absolutely nothing. He’s just like a wet blanket. Put him in with the kids and even the kids would be going, ‘Who the hell is this guy?’ Seriously.”

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Ugarte’s adaptation has been slow, and Casemiro continues to be preferred in the holding role, leaving the Uruguay international on the bench. For a signing potentially worth £50.5m, that is a concern and one Amorim must resolve if United are to progress.

Pressure on Amorim’s Project

United’s season has felt like a work in progress, and the derby will serve as a barometer for how far they have come. Manchester City may have lost their past two league games, but Pep Guardiola has had two weeks to prepare. For Amorim, a positive result could transform the mood and vindicate his decisions on Sesko, Ugarte and the goalkeeping situation.

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Our View – EPL Index Analysis

United have gone through a series of rebuilds, and each one carries the weight of expectation that the next generation will deliver. Benjamin Sesko is clearly a talent, but Butt is right: throwing him in and expecting instant results is a recipe for frustration.

The same can be said of Ugarte. Labelling a player a “wet blanket” so early feels harsh, yet this is the reality of elite football in England where big fees demand immediate performances. If United cannot get him to impose himself, it becomes a wasted signing.

For Amorim, the derby is a chance to show that his project has structure and that these players are being integrated properly. If Sesko delivers in this fixture, the narrative shifts dramatically. If he struggles, the questions will only get louder.