Manchester United have shut down criticism from the likes of Paul Merson about one player against Grimsby Town with a clear explanation.
Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, falling to a stunning defeat against League Two side Grimsby Town.
United were second best for large parts of the match and went into half-time 2-0 down after a lacklustre display. The scoreline was a fair reflection of the game, with Grimsby even having two further strikes disallowed for offside as they looked poised to deepen Ruben Amorim’s misery.
Bryan Mbeumo halved the deficit midway through the second half, and Harry Maguire’s late header forced the tie into a penalty shootout.
After an exhausting run of 12 penalties each, it was Mbeumo who struck the decisive kick against the crossbar, confirming United’s shock elimination from the competition.
Merson criticises Šeško vs Grimsby
After the game, former Arsenal player Paul Merson singled out criticism for Benjamin Šeško, who was making his first start for the club.
The Slovenian didn’t get many opportunities during the game but it was his placement in the penalty shootout which angered Merson.
“How much did they buy Šeško for? £70 million. He’s taking the 10th penalty, I thought he had a broken leg when he stepped up,” the 57-year-old said on Sky Sports.
“I thought that he must be that injured and then I hear people go they didn’t want him to miss and have that pressure, he’s a £70 million player, he’s come in to score goals for the club.
“I understand the first two penalty takers are them [Fernandes and Mbeumo], but he’s got to be in the first five. He’s taking a penalty from 12 yards… I forgot he was playing and when he came up on the 10th penalty I was wowed.”
United shut down Merson’s criticism of Šeško
Merson was not the only person to question Šeško’s placement in United’s penalty lineup, even though he scored from the spot.
United have since briefed the reasoning for the 22-year-old taking the 10th penalty for the Reds and it shuts down any questions Merson and others had.
BBC Sport report that sources said the decision was taken as Sesko, who was completing his first competitive 90 minutes since 19 April, was experiencing cramp due to a pitch that had become heavy with rainfall.
It is an understandable reason and something that shouldn’t have really gotten much attention in the first place, but that will always happen at United.
Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will be learning all about it right now and United fans will be hoping they can deal with it.
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