The disagreement between the Red Devils and Slovenia did not begin under Cesar. Former Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek also criticised the club’s communication following aknee injury Sesko suffered against Tottenham in November. That episode came during a difficult period for Slovenia, whose subsequent results contributed to their failure to qualify for the World Cup before Kek’s departure.
Cesar inherited the situation and has continued to push back against what he sees as unequal treatment of the national side. Slovenia believe Sesko’s repeated absences against Hungary, Montenegro, Kosovo, Sweden, Cyprus and Croatia have left the national team at a disadvantage.
"Normally the national team is crucial for us, a little less so for them (United), but it's better for Benjamin not to train for these 14 days," Cesar said last March. "Our medical department immediately assessed that it would not be good for him to play."