Senne Lammens affirms that Benjamin Sesko understands his vital importance to Manchester United, regardless of starting lineup decisions. The Slovenian striker entered as a substitute and netted a stunning injury-time equalizer to secure a draw against West Ham at the London Stadium.
Sesko’s Impact from the Bench
Michael Carrick brought on Sesko in the 69th minute during his interim tenure. Facing a potential first loss, Carrick relied on the forward, who delivered with a brilliant finish. Sesko has featured from the bench in all five of Carrick’s matches, scoring a late winner in a 3-2 victory over Fulham and repeating the feat against West Ham to keep United unbeaten.
After a sluggish start following his £66.4 million transfer from RB Leipzig—plus £7.3 million in add-ons—Sesko has surged, netting five goals in his last six outings.
Lammens Praises Sesko’s Mindset
Speaking after the match, Lammens highlighted Sesko’s consistency. “He’s been the same all season, whether starting or not,” Lammens said. “He knows how important he is to us, even from the bench. Like today and against Fulham, we can always count on him for a goal.”
Lammens added, “He did his job well today, and I’m sure he’d excel starting too. It’s great to rely on him in any role.”
Post-Match Reflections
Sesko expressed satisfaction with the point but frustration over the missed win. Lammens shared mixed emotions: “Still disappointed—we didn’t play our best, especially in the first half. We lacked sharpness and chance creation.”
On the packed schedule—two games in four days—Lammens noted, “West Ham are tough, especially here with their low block. We weren’t sharp like recent weeks. No excuses, though; top teams adapt.”
The goalkeeper shone with a key save on Crysencio Summerville and a one-on-one stop against Callum Wilson late on. Despite Carrick’s unbeaten streak grabbing headlines, Lammens has been a steady presence since his October debut.
Carrick’s Leadership and Future Challenges
Lammens lauded Carrick’s clarity: “The way he prepared us against City with little time was impressive—clear communication and plans. We’ve executed well, getting results like four straight wins, which we lacked all season.”
With eight minutes left, Carrick subbed Joshua Zirkzee for Diogo Dalot. Lammens emphasized bold moves: “When trailing, you gamble with subs. My saves helped us push for that point.”
United now enter a two-week break, aiming to build on Carrick’s strong interim run.
