TL:DR – Rio Ferdinand explains Benjamin Sesko’s growing popularity among Man Utd players
- Benjamin Sesko shines for Manchester United, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Fulham (Paragraph 7).
- Rio Ferdinand praises Sesko’s work ethic, noting his dedication in training impresses teammates (Paragraph 5).
- After a slow start, Sesko has netted six goals since joining from RB Leipzig for £74m (Paragraph 3).
- Michael Carrick, interim manager, expresses pride in Sesko, commending his bright training performances (Paragraph 10).
Rio Ferdinand reveals why Benjamin Sesko has become popular with Man Utd teammates | Football
Benjamin Sesko was the goal-scoring hero for Manchester United on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images)
Benjamin Sesko is proving to be a hit with his teammates and the staff at Manchester United due to his brilliant work ethic at the training ground, says club legend Rio Ferdinand.
The 22-year-old arrived from RB Leipzig over the summer for £74m and came with a glowing reputation, having been linked to the likes of Arsenal as well.
Dropped Sesko to the bench
The Slovenia international made a slow start to life in England and just looked to be finding form before interim manager Michael Carrick was appointed.
Carrick immediately dropped Sesko to the bench and played Bryan Mbeumo up front in his first three games in charge, however, the Slovenian came off the bench to be the hero in that third outing.
A brilliant finish in stoppage time was the winner in the dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham on Sunday, with Sesko scoring his sixth goal for the club but producing easily his best moment in a Manchester United shirt so far.
Obviously his teammates were thrilled with the late winner, but Sesko seemed to be congratulated even more than you might expect, with his manager, with Carrick saying the striker ‘really deserved’ his moment.
Ferdinand says the summer signing has been setting the example in training since his arrival, with his teammates thoroughly impressed by his work ethic and commitment.
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Michael Carrick was thrilled for Sesko after he netted the winner (Picture: Getty Images)
‘What I would say about him from people on the training ground is his attitude is first class,’ the former United defender said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
‘He’s in every day, early, ready to prepare for training, ready to do the extras before training, getting his body right, to make sure that he’s ready to go out there and give his best every day in training, no stone is left unturned.
‘And they say especially for a young kid, his mindset and his attitude has been first class.
‘The club will have done their due diligence anyway, they will have known that he’s a good kid who wants to work hard. But it’s then coming into an environment like Man Utd, a club of that stature and then wanting to go to a new level.
‘That’s why you see the guys in the changing room and on the pitch reacting to his goal in the way that they was all so happy for him.
‘You only get that type of reaction when they go, “You know what? He’s likable, and you must be a good kid, and you must show traits of someone who works really hard”.
‘So good luck to him, man. I want him to do well.’
Sesko fired Man Utd back to fourth in the Premier League (Picture: Getty Images)
Ferdinand says it is not just hard work that has taken Sesko to Manchester United, feeling that he just needs more confidence to show off his impressive abilities.
‘He’s got all the attributes you’d want in your number nine, by the way, a Premier League modern-day player,’ said the former England centre-back.
‘He’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic, he’s agile, he’s got a clean strike. It’s just that confidence and getting them goals.’
‘The reception he got when came back in the changing room told us everything.’
Speaking of his striker’s success, Carrick said: ‘It was a huge moment. We are so, so pleased, everyone in the dressing room. The reception he got when came back in the changing room told us everything.
‘He has been bright in training, he has looked dangerous. Ben is a big talent, he has so many positive things.
‘And today was a huge goal. To score a winner in front of the Stretford End is what you dream of. He really deserved it.’