The tremors of the Manchester Derby defeat are still being felt, and Ben Foster says that one player in the Man Utd squad ‘must be sick’.
Not many players at Man Utd emerged with credit to their name after the 3-0 defeat to City, but some players can point to the team’s overall failings, causing their poor form.
There were some bright spots in the performance, like Bryan Mbeumo setting a positive tone with his hard work, or Matthijs de Ligt being solid at the back.
Ben Foster says another player who did all the right things was let down by his teammates in the game, in a deja vu experience. He “must be sick”.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, looks dejected after the team's defeat during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Ben Foster feels ‘sorry’ for Benjamin Sesko
It was always known that Benjamin Sesko was a project striker being thrust into a role that would demand more from him immediately.
The hope was that, unlike Rasmus Hojlund, he had a better support structure around him in a more synchronised team.
Five games in, it’s clear that the personnel is no longer the problem, because Sesko is suffering from the same lack of service that doomed Hojlund at Old Trafford.
Foster, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that he feels sorry for Sesko, who is being asked to carry the United attack in the absence of coherent patterns of play and service.
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He said: “I felt really sorry for Sesko. I thought he didn’t get any service whatsoever. He must be sick. It’s very similar to Hojlund last season.
“It just looks like it’s hard work being a striker for Man Utd. The big guy up top is expected to bring it down, hold it up, and then bring others into the game. He was doing okay with it, but other than that, he was getting no service. It’s going to be a tough season for him.”
Man Utd planned for the future that might not come
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have shown what difference it makes to have proven quality in key positions despite the team’s lack of cutting edge.
It’s why United’s choice of signings in the two most vulnerable areas is a head-scratcher.
Goalkeeper and striker are the two most important building blocks in the team, and United went for project players in both positions.
There’s an element of planning for the future with both players because they have vast potential, but planning for the future can’t happen by sacrificing the present.
Lammens wasn’t deemed ready to start vs City, while Sesko should grow in his role, but doesn’t have time to do so.
Ultimately, they might have planned for a future that doesn’t arrive, which is what happened with Hojlund, who was crushed under the weight of expectations when he was not ready for it.