Ruben Amorim has been urged to start fast, becoming fan favourite against Brighton by a former Manchester United striker.
Manchester United, against all odds, took victory against Liverpool, making it back-to-back wins for the first time in Rúben Amorim’s tenure as manager at Old Trafford.
Much was made of the team selection before the game, with Benjamin Šeško dropping out of the side for Matheus Cunha. Fans and pundits criticised the coach for dropping the natural centre forward for a false nine like Cunha, as in the past, Sir Alex Ferguson would have never dropped Andy Cole or Dwight Yorke for an attacking midfielder.
In the days of Yorke, he had competition with the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham, as competition elevates standards, which in turn could elevate goal-scoring output.
Returning to present day, having Šeško and Cunha both available for selection, provides Amorim with a healthy headache. Going for the fluid Brazilian forward will allow United to be more interchangeable in their movements, keeping Brighton guessing – that is how United outfoxed Liverpool on Sunday.
Whereas choosing the towering technical Šeško means United can go more direct, utilising his fantastic aerial ability. He is a natural number nine and can sniff out chances.
Yorke calls for Šeško to lead the line
Ex-United striker Yorke has challenged Amorim to start Šeško when United welcome Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday, describing the Slovenian striker as a “fabulous player.” Yorke believes the club should prioritise giving him consistent minutes, allowing him to further adapt to the Premier League.
“I think Benjamin Šeško needs to be Manchester United’s starting striker,” Yorke said. “We’ve seen the likes of Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha play in the position this season, but if you invest all this money in a striker, then you need to give him as much time as possible to adapt to the Premier League. I think he’s a fabulous player and works extremely hard.”
Yorke also highlighted the challenges Šeško will face: “There are going to be times where he’ll find it tough going,” he added. “But United should stick with him because he’s the best option for them in that position.”
So far in his short United career, Šeško‘s impact has been more productive when he has been included in the starting lineup. With his two goals in four starts, coming against Brentford and Sunderland.
Although his height is his most noticeable attribute, do not underestimate his technical ability. He has many facets to his game that can benefit United both in the present and the future.
The 22-year-old striker was beginning to find form in a United shirt, scoring two goals in four starts, but was then dropped in United’s last Premier League outing. The club have also relied on Cunha and a makeshift Mason Mount to occupy the position. Yorke believes persistence will pay off for both the club and the player.
Why Amorim is the perfect manager to help Šeško thrive, but needs to be careful
Amorim is no stranger to nurturing and improving young talent, but he must manage morale. At Sporting CP, the Portuguese manager gave debuts to 27 academy prospects in just over four years at the club.
He had a striker with a similar profile in Viktor Gyökeres – not as technical, but tall, pacy and powerful, who led the line week in, week out. He was the leading man. Strikers tend to be confident players, so they need assurance that they are the first choice.
Having both Šeško and Cunha pushing for a starting spot is exactly the kind of depth United have lacked in recent seasons. Amorim’s rotation policy might frustrate individuals at times, but over a long campaign, it keeps the squad fresh and focused.
Šeško’s presence ensures Cunha cannot get comfortable, while Cunha’s form keeps Šeško hungry. For Amorim, that balance is crucial. It means United can change their approach depending on the opponent.
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