Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Michael Carrick made “two big calls” around Benjamin Sesko and another key first-team Manchester United star early into his interim reign.
Benjamin Sesko ended his goalscoring drought in the post-Ruben Amorim era after he netted a stunning brace in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw against Burnley.
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Following Man Utd’s Premier League encounter with Burnley at Turf Moor earlier this month, Sesko found the back of the net in consecutive matches for the Red Devils.
The 22-year-old striker scored in United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils crashing out of the tournament.
Sesko started both of the Red Devils’ clashes with Burnley and Man Utd’s encounter with Brighton during Darren Fletcher’s two-match caretaker managerial spell.
Rio Ferdinand puts the focus on Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha after Michael Carrick took charge of Man Utd
Matheus Cunha, much like fellow Manchester United summer signing Benjamin Sesko, was in the starting XI for the two matches that Darren Fletcher led.
Manchester United Under-18s head coach Fletcher left his caretaker role last week after the Red Devils confirmed the return of Michael Carrick to Old Trafford.
Red Devils interim boss Carrick made the huge call to drop both in-form striker Sesko and forward Matheus Cunha for Man Utd’s encounter with Manchester City.
Speaking after Man Utd’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Rio Ferdinand said that Carrick’s decision regarding Ruben Amorim’s two summer signings was being overlooked.
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“And I think it’s one thing that I think a lot of people aren’t talking about,” he explained on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“Michael Carrick has come and he’s made two big calls, you know. You’ve got one striker at number nine who’s in form, Sesko. He’s in form and scoring goals – out of the team, please.
“Cunha, who everyone’s been raving about and going, ‘I love him, I love him, he looks like a real Man Utd player.’ Them two players came out of the team, because why?
“Because he [Carrick] said, first and foremost, before anything, I just want people to run.
“And he had others who he thought could probably be in that capacity a bit more. Not to say he’s not going to use them.”
Rio Ferdinand on Matheus Cunha’s Man Utd impact against Man City at Old Trafford
Matheus Cunha came off the bench in the second half and replaced goalscorer Bryan Mbeumo, with the former Wolves ace having a meaningful impact in his cameo.
The 26-year-old Brazilian forward set up Patrick Dorgu for Man Utd’s second of the contest against Manchester City, only five minutes after being subbed on.
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Speaking on Cunha’s performance, United legend Ferdinand added: “And I think, listen, Cunha came on and showed his worth when he came on.
“But I think it was really interesting to see, listen, I’ve got a way of playing and these look at the moment for this game fit better.
“And I think that this will change and these players will all rotate.”
Sesko was left as an unused substitute in United’s sensational result against rivals City in the final Manchester derby of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/XVLdf8T