Michael Carrick praised Benjamin Sesko for his rapid adaptation to life at Manchester United.
“He is growing as a player,” Carrick said. “Sometimes it’s big steps, sometimes small steps. He has taken huge ones recently. The confidence and belief he is showing is great to see.”
Sesko’s contributions in United’s last two matches have positioned the team strongly to return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Without his late interventions, United would have lost to West Ham on 10 February and drawn against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
His goals now place United in fourth, three points behind Aston Villa and three ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool. Sesko’s stoppage-time volley at West Ham demonstrated aesthetic brilliance, while his 71st-minute strike against Everton showcased physical excellence.
He sprinted 70 yards at top speed, laid off to Matheus Cunha, then calmly finished Bryan Mbeumo’s square pass.
“It was a great finish, a ruthless finish,” Carrick said. “I liked the confidence he showed in putting it away.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, watching on Sky Sports, admired Sesko’s effort.
“Sesko ran over 80 yards and still finished,” Carragher said. “He had the energy to celebrate strongly after that.”
Sesko now has eight goals this season. He only scored twice under Ruben Amorim, who signed him from RB Leipzig for £73.7m in August 2025. He has scored six in his last seven games, starting with three in two matches under Darren Fletcher after Amorim’s dismissal in January.
Many observers feel Sesko deserves a place in the starting XI under Carrick, yet the manager remains measured.
“I understand the debate,” Carrick said. “But it is not that critical. I have a good relationship with Ben. He wants to play, but we have strong forwards, and I can’t praise him enough.”
Sesko focuses on delivering when called upon.
“I believe in myself, and my teammates do too,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if I play five minutes or 90. I aim to deliver every time, and I’m happy with that.”
Brilliant Lammens shines in goal
While Sesko stole the spotlight at one end, summer recruit Senne Lammens impressed at the other.
The Belgian goalkeeper stopped a powerful Michael Keane strike and managed multiple corners under intense pressure.
“Their goalkeeper was brilliant,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “He made crucial saves and handled corners superbly. He was their best player.”
Carrick benefits from United’s recruitment choices, which rejected bringing Emi Martinez from Aston Villa and instead invested £18.1m in Lammens, who had only one full senior season in Belgium.
Lammens is 23; Sesko is 22. United now possess a young generation beginning to flourish.
After the Everton game, Carrick noted that former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar analyzed the match with Carragher on TV. He avoided direct comparisons but acknowledged similarities.
“You want a goalkeeper who is reliable and takes control of chaos,” Carrick said. “Senne remains calm and composed. He reassures the defence and has real steel.”
Champions League ambitions grow
United aimed to return to Europe this season, initially targeting the Europa League. After Amorim’s exit, director of football Jason Wilcox encouraged the squad to reach the Champions League.
The financial and status difference between competitions is huge. United now have 10 consecutive Premier League games without defeat, their longest run since a 14-game streak under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021.
With no European distractions, unlike Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool, failing to reach the Champions League would disappoint.
“Manchester United now look almost guaranteed a Champions League spot,” Carragher said. “I can’t see them missing out.”
