Just when Benjamin Sesko looked to have found his groove, the international break rolled back around.
With it, however, came a confidence-denting performance at the worst possible time.
Indeed, Ruben Amorim likely had his head in his hands again while watching Sesko toil away during Slovenia’s goalless draw with Kosovo on Friday night.
Manchester United’s newest big-money striker, brought in to replace Rasmus Hojlund during the summer, started in a two-man strikeforce for his country but was unable to break the deadlock.
Ironically, Hojlund has since been finding the back of the net for fun with Napoli and Denmark, while United have a whopping £74million conundrum on their hands.
Photo by ARMEND NIMANI/AFP via Getty ImagesBenjamin Sesko lacks killer instinct
In fairness to Benjamin Sesko, it was a poor performance all round from Slovenia.
They were too hurried in the build-up and slung the ball from back to front in a matter of seconds, which prevented their frontman from getting into the right positions.
It was no surprise, then, that Sesko recorded the fewest touches (25) of any outfielder to play the full 90 minutes. There was no escaping the eerie comparisons to his time at United so far. After all, bringing him into the game has been just as difficult at Old Trafford, as well.
The 22-year-old did come closest to finding the breakthrough after steering a shot on target before half-time, but he was unable to make his usual darting runs in behind on a difficult evening.
There was another chance for him to score 10 minutes from time when his shot was blocked by a last-ditch challenge inside the box, and Sesko came close again seconds later with a close-range volley. Adding insult to injury, he then missed a header in the 83rd minute, steering beyond the post.
Sesko, of course, should be extended a fair amount of sympathy. While he was wasteful, he was not fed through with any regularity, meaning he was working off scraps.
But there was no escaping the fact that the good movement, silky control and effective hold-up play seen at United were missing for his country, and the post-match verdict was not good.
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek did not mention Sesko by name, but his assessment of the game said it all.
“We had our opponent under control in a way we haven’t had any for a long time, but I am missing a bit more of a killer instinct in the penalty area,” Kek said.
The mark of an elite striker is their ability to punish opponents even when drifting in and out of matches, and as of yet, Sesko has not developed this ruthless streak. United will hope it comes in time.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Slovenian media were also unimpressed with Sesko’s performance.
Primorske Svet said the striker was “insufficiently accurate” in taking his chances, before declaring the whole team were guilty of “not particularly attractive play”.
RTV Slovenia were slightly more forgiving, admitting Sesko had “in particular had some nice chances” but that it “wasn’t his day.”
Sesko and Slovenia will now cast their attention to their next World Cup qualifier against group leaders Switzerland on Monday, when a win will move them closer to sealing their spot at the tournament.