Benjamin Sesko says interim head coach Michael Carrick is preparing him to start games after he scored the winning goal in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Everton.
United have won five of Carrick’s six games in charge, with the 22-year-old introduced as a substitute in all of them. The Slovenia international has scored in three of those outings and came off the bench to earn United all three points at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.
The striker, who joined United from RB Leipzig last summer for an initial €76.5million (£66.4m; $89.1m) plus €8.5m in add-ons, has now scored eight goals in all competitions for United but started just 11 Premier League games.
When asked if he had spoken to Carrick about his role in the team, Sesko replied: “We are talking of course, but (Carrick) believes in me. Everyone believes in me, and they are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I get. I’m focused on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.
“I’m getting settled in the league from game to game. Again, I’m not even thinking about “I have to start, I have to start”. Whenever the coach decides to put (me) on, I’m going to be there. If I get five minutes, I’m going to use them. It’s just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team.
“The way I look at the pressure (of scoring goals for United), it’s something that if I want to be a good player, it’s something that I have to have. I take it as a privilege.
“It’s something that has (to be there) if you want to play at the highest level. It’s about accepting it and not really caring about it. It doesn’t really affect me.”
Carrick has tended to prefer starting Bryan Mbeumo up front with Sesko coming on as a second-half substitute. Sesko scored a 94th-minute winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Fulham on February 1 and a 96th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United on February 10. His goal against Everton came from a long pass from Matheus Cunha to Mbeumo, who played a through ball for Sesko to run onto and finish past Jordan Pickford.
Sesko spoke on his relationship with Cunha and Mbeumo, as well as hinting at working with former United striker Dimitar Berbatov to improve his finishing.
“We (Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha) understand each other. We do a lot on the training field and we are working a lot. That’s why (it’s important) to have such quality in the team.
“I have heard the rumours (that I’ve been working with Berbatov). I haven’t had any conversation with him, but I definitely would like to. It would be really nice.
“We have the coaching staff that are doing individual work each day, and that is really helping me to focus in these kinds of moments.”
United are third in the Premier League and are next in action against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on March 1.