Benjamin Sesko Receives Explosive Advice on Conquering Manchester United
Benjamin Šeško has been advised that he must become more assertive with his Manchester United colleagues if he wants to fulfill his promise at the club after his substantial summer move.
United could end up paying as much as £73.7 million ($97.3 million) for Šeško should the Slovenian striker meet all the performance clauses negotiated with former club RB Leipzig in August, creating considerable expectations for him to perform, particularly given that Rasmus Højlund joined for a comparable amount and was released after only two seasons.
The 22-year-old forward waited six weeks before finding the net in a United shirt but has since netted twice in his previous three Premier League appearances. While this represents an encouraging start for a young talent adapting to a new environment, former United forward Dimitar Berbatov has urged Šeško to display more confidence and boldness when demanding the ball from teammates, trusting in his ability to produce impressive statistics.
"Have faith in your abilities. Show some cockiness by demanding possession from your colleagues when you make your runs," the former fan favorite explained during his guest spot on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
Berbatov was more mature and experienced when he joined Old Trafford in late summer 2008. However, he understands the pressure of carrying a hefty price tag and the expectation to score regularly, having become United's most expensive acquisition at £30.75 million—a record that stood for nearly six years until Juan Mata's £37.1 million transfer from Chelsea in January 2014.
"When you create a quality opportunity, if the pass doesn't reach you, communicate or show your frustration so your teammates recognize that, 'I'm positioned here. I'm creating space for you. Acknowledge my movement. Not constantly but attempt to spot me and trust in what I can accomplish with that positioning,'" Berbatov elaborated.
"Occasionally show frustration. Shout, curse, whatever it takes. [It's] nothing personal. Simply communicate that 'I'm available, mate. That's my purpose here. Just deliver the ball to me. Feed me the pass. I'll attempt to find the net for you'.
"During the break, before and following matches, communicate. Sometimes I believe players should be more forceful and passionate, expressing something like, 'Get me the bloody ball, mate!'"
Mastering the 'Simple Finish'
Berbatov found the net 56 times during his four-year United tenure, including a Premier League Golden Boot triumph in 2010–11. He emphasized that strikers face sole responsibility when goals are scarce, making proper positioning crucial for Šeško's success.
"Ultimately, forwards are measured by their goal output. When they fail to score sufficient goals, criticism will follow," the Bulgarian explained.
"If you excel at staying central, focus on that skill. Remain in the penalty area. Practice session after practice session working on open goals. Have someone supply crosses, just work on close-range finishes. Develop the instinct for converting those straightforward chances too."