Manchester United spent £73million on Benjamin Sesko in the summer, and although he is yet to start under Michael Carrick, he is still proving his worth.
Benjamin Sesko is starting to make an impact at Manchester United
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Darren Fletcher's time in charge of Manchester United might only have lasted two games and a little over a week, but for Benjamin Sesko, it could prove to have been a pivotal few days in his Old Trafford career.
The Slovenian had struggled at times under Ruben Amorim. Although his unflappable nature ensured he never got too down on himself, a return of just two goals in 17 games under the Portuguese head coach marked a slow start after a £73million move from RB Leipzig in the summer.
Sesko didn't score in any of United's final nine games under Amorim and looked like he was struggling for confidence. The appointment of Fletcher was an immediate remedy to that and although he hasn't started yet for Michael Carrick, he has maintained that momentum by coming off the bench to score crucial goals against Fulham and West Ham.
On his first day as caretaker head coach, Fletcher pulled Sesko aside for a one-on-one chat. He showed him videos of his movement and things he was doing well, telling him the goals would come if he kept that up. But he also explained United's pursuit of him.
Although he was closely monitored by Arsenal before they pivoted to Viktor Gyokeres, United had also been keeping tabs on Sesko, ever since his breakthrough at Red Bull Salzburg. As the club's former technical director, Fletcher was well placed to tell Sesko how long United had been tracking him and what they liked about him. It put a spring in his step.
As a confidence-building tool, it paid immediate dividends. Sesko scored twice in Fletcher's first game in charge against Burnley and then found the net again in the FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton. In 245 minutes of football since Amorim was sacked, he has scored five goals at a rate of one every 49 minutes.
Benjamin Sesko and Michael Carrick
Sesko gets a hug from Michael Carrick after his late winner against Fulham
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Sesko has been restricted to the role of impact sub under Carrick, but he is playing it to perfection. At 22, there is plenty of room for development, and he is benefiting from a change in approach at Carrington over the past five or six weeks.
While Amorim's coaching focused heavily on team sessions, there is more room for individual work now, with sessions shorter, allowing for one-on-one work at the end of them. Sesko is regularly involved in that and Carrick has been pleased with what he has seen, with the view that he has improved since the turn of the year. Part of former academy coach Travis Binnion's role is to work on individual player development and he is having an impact on Sesko.
The striker is also big on helping himself. He is described as "super dedicated" at the training ground and arrives first every day with Diogo Dalot, who has become his closest confidante in the squad. Upon arrival at Carrington, the pair will always spend 45 minutes in the hyperbaric chamber, which helps muscles recover.
A sign of that desire to do the right things in terms of preparation comes from Sesko's decision over which house to buy. He lived in the city centre when he first signed for the club and took his time before moving into his own property, because he wanted a house that would aid his performance, with facilities like a pool, sauna and ice bath built in. He now has that in Cheshire's 'golden triangle' for footballers.
This approach to performance is why Amorim labelled him a "control freak" in November. It came at a time when there were questions over Sesko's form and the comment was the Portuguese's typically blunt way of communicating. It wasn't meant as a criticism, but it could have been interpreted that way.
Sesko delivered his best performance for United against Burnley under Darren Fletcher
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It didn't unsettle Sesko, however. Club insiders aren't even sure if he saw the comments, such is his desire to shut himself away from the outside noise. He isn't a big social media user; he usually just posts after a game and then disconnects to avoid getting bogged down by criticism or carried away by praise.
Throughout his time at Old Trafford and the ups and downs that have already accompanied his embryonic career at the club, he has remained consistent with his approach and personality. A source described it as his "super strength", such is the noise around United and the ease with which players can become distracted.
Rather than scrolling through social media apps, Sesko is an avid reader. He is described as an intelligent young man who reads books on performance culture. One of his favourites is The Let Them Theory, which helps readers stop letting other people's opinions and judgements impact their lives.
It sounds like it should be required reading for every new United signing.
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