Some Man Utd fans have been quick to point out the maturity shown by Benjamin Sesko after Monday's 1-0 win against Everton.
Alejandro Garnacho has not made a great start at Chelsea.(Image: 2026 Chelsea FC)
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Hours before Manchester United played Tottenham in last season's Europa League final, Alejandro Garnacho uploaded a photo of himself scoring in the FA Cup final on Instagram. The post appeared to suggest he'd been omitted from the starting XI, and Garnacho was confirmed to be on the bench at the Estadio de San Mames.
"Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know," said Garnacho after the game, before adding that the final would influence his decision on his future.
Roberto Garnacho, his younger brother, also caused a stir after the final when he posted on social media: "Working as no one else, helping every round, coming from two goals last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus. Wowe, hahahaha."
Garnacho was unhappy about missing out on the starting team in the Europa League final and petulantly hinted at the decision before the team news had dropped. His post-match comments were also perceived as arrogant by some supporters. Garnacho did not help himself during his time in Manchester.
Garnacho left for Stamford Bridge in the summer, which must have come as a relief to United staff who were aware that his younger brother had form for running his mouth on social media.
Their activity on social media is now Chelsea's problem, but a few United fans found themselves discussing the winger again on Tuesday following Benjamin Sesko's post-match interview.
So how did an interview with Sesko end up involving Garnacho? The answer is that Sesko spoke with maturity beyond his years in the mixed zone at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, wisely reflecting on not starting with the kind of perspective that Garnacho lacked.
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Speaking to reporters after the game, Sesko said: "We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me. 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’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Sesko is grounded and humble.(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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When asked whether being gradually bedded in had helped him this season, he responded: "Of course. 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'.
"For me, it’s just whenever the coach decides to put them there or not, I’m just going to be there. If I get the next minutes, five minutes, I’m going to use them and for me it’s just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team."
Garnacho was 20 when he caused a stir on the day of the Europa League final. He was young, but old enough to know better and his lack of maturity let him down.
Sesko is 22, and his response about what it's been like not to start under Michael Carrick provided an insight into his personality and character. The Slovenia international has not sulked after missing out on starts; he has got his head down and worked hard to improve.
The difference in mentality between Garnacho and Sesko is stark. The former sulked and criticised his manager, while the latter knuckled down and did not complain about his situation.
Encounters with players in mixed zones are brief, but you start to get a sense of their personalities. Sesko said "thank you so much" when he was congratulated on his goal at the start of the chat on Monday night. It's not often a Premier League player is so polite when speaking to the media.
Ruben Amorim did a lot wrong during his 14 months in charge, but one thing he got right was banishing some big names who weren't right for United. Garnacho's public outbursts were petulant and ultimately let him down.
You need strong characters in a dressing room to achieve success. United have upgraded from a player who moaned about not starting on social media to one who cracks on with his job without complaining.
Sesko's maturity is impressive. It will help him to become a star at United.