Carrick: Sesko is the man for the big moment
Michael Carrick believes Benjamin Sesko is primed to kick on further, after his latest crucial injury-time goal.
Our head coach was thrilled with his forward and praised his technique and composure so late in the game, as we came away from West Ham United with a valiant point after the 1-1 draw, extending our unbeaten run to nine Premier League matches.
He says the Slovenian is the man for the big occasion, as our no.30 was also the hero in the win over Fulham at Old Trafford nine days ago, scoring another goal beyond the 90th minute on that occasion.
Carrick was speaking in his post-match press conference after the draw with West Ham, which you can read and watch in its entirety below...
Carrick's post-match press conference Video
Carrick's post-match press conference
💬 PRESS CONFERENCE | Michael Carrick talks Sesko, late drama and plans for the break after our draw with the Hammers...
Does that feel like a win? What is your view of the performance, it felt a bit stodgy...
“Good word, that. It’s mixed feelings. We know we weren’t quite at our best and credit West Ham for that. We can be better, the boys are frustrated and disappointed with that, which is good to see. We found a late goal, it’s a great moment and another positive. We don’t want to have to pull on it and use it too often, but in the grand scheme of things, a point is something we can take. When you assess games over a five-match period, to only have one draw is a big positive but it’s mixed feelings.”
But you had to gamble late on, it paid off...
“It’s always worth it to try and get something from the game. Credit to Leny [Yoro] there were two great bits of defending. Those two moments were huge, they gave us the chance to then get the goal to get something out of the game. We had to go for it and credit to the lads for keeping going.”
“Good word, that. It’s mixed feelings. We know we weren’t quite at our best and credit West Ham for that. We can be better, the boys are frustrated and disappointed with that, which is good to see. We found a late goal, it’s a great moment and another positive. We don’t want to have to pull on it and use it too often, but in the grand scheme of things, a point is something we can take. When you assess games over a five-match period, to only have one draw is a big positive but it’s mixed feelings.”
But you had to gamble late on, it paid off...
“It’s always worth it to try and get something from the game. Credit to Leny [Yoro] there were two great bits of defending. Those two moments were huge, they gave us the chance to then get the goal to get something out of the game. We had to go for it and credit to the lads for keeping going.”
How much consideration did you give to starting Benjamin, with his impact from the bench lately?
“It’s always a balance. The boys who have played have done fantastically well. That’s the importance of the group, I say it after every game. Ben is doing a lot of work, he is in a really good place and he is ready to kick on. It’s managing the balance. We could have changed things earlier, but when he came on he made a big difference.”
It’s the first time you’ve not had a full week to prepare going into a game. How much difference did that make?
“It is what it is, it doesn’t make a difference to us. We know how hard it is to put a run together in this league, it’s not easy. Sometimes you’re dangerous, you have a spark, and sometimes you are stodgy. You need to find the answer, you need to find a way. The goal we conceded was a frustrating one, with the flow of the game. But football throws things up. In the grand scheme of things we managed to take something from the match and we move on.”
It was a big move for Ben and sometimes he has maybe looked a little short on confidence, but he has come up with two massive goals for you - that looked like the finish of a player who has been playing in this league for years tonight...
“It’s an unbelievable finish. From that angle, to generate that and to get it on target, it’s some finish. He is capable of that. But it’s not like he has suddenly burst onto the scene, he has proven he scores goals, and he does it in training. The last one [v Fulham] would have done him the world of good, but that was a big moment for him, and for us.”
“It’s always a balance. The boys who have played have done fantastically well. That’s the importance of the group, I say it after every game. Ben is doing a lot of work, he is in a really good place and he is ready to kick on. It’s managing the balance. We could have changed things earlier, but when he came on he made a big difference.”
It’s the first time you’ve not had a full week to prepare going into a game. How much difference did that make?
“It is what it is, it doesn’t make a difference to us. We know how hard it is to put a run together in this league, it’s not easy. Sometimes you’re dangerous, you have a spark, and sometimes you are stodgy. You need to find the answer, you need to find a way. The goal we conceded was a frustrating one, with the flow of the game. But football throws things up. In the grand scheme of things we managed to take something from the match and we move on.”
It was a big move for Ben and sometimes he has maybe looked a little short on confidence, but he has come up with two massive goals for you - that looked like the finish of a player who has been playing in this league for years tonight...
“It’s an unbelievable finish. From that angle, to generate that and to get it on target, it’s some finish. He is capable of that. But it’s not like he has suddenly burst onto the scene, he has proven he scores goals, and he does it in training. The last one [v Fulham] would have done him the world of good, but that was a big moment for him, and for us.”
Highlights: West Ham v United Video
Highlights: West Ham v United
HIGHLIGHTS | A Tuesday-night trip took us to London, as we faced an in-form West Ham United...
As a former midfielder, can you explain more about Kobbie Mainoo and what he is bringing to your team?
“He plays his role so well in the team, and has that partnership with Casemiro and they compliment each other. He tries to connect the team with or without the ball and bring everything together. He starts so many of our moves, and he brings so much to the team.”
There is no game for a while now, what’s the plan for the next few weeks?
“We’ll stay in Manchester. It’s a chance to refresh a little bit, we have a few knocks and a few niggles. We have a few strains we would like to clean up, as well it will be good to have a little breather, and to digest where we’re at after this period. We need to clear our heads, do some good work, take a deep breath and to come back even stronger. It’s a strange one, 13 days, but we’ll look to make the most of it.”
“He plays his role so well in the team, and has that partnership with Casemiro and they compliment each other. He tries to connect the team with or without the ball and bring everything together. He starts so many of our moves, and he brings so much to the team.”
There is no game for a while now, what’s the plan for the next few weeks?
“We’ll stay in Manchester. It’s a chance to refresh a little bit, we have a few knocks and a few niggles. We have a few strains we would like to clean up, as well it will be good to have a little breather, and to digest where we’re at after this period. We need to clear our heads, do some good work, take a deep breath and to come back even stronger. It’s a strange one, 13 days, but we’ll look to make the most of it.”
Late goals have been a huge part of the season and is a bit of a tradition. Is your message to the players just to keep going?
“It’s a huge part of it, you need to have that spur and to keep trying to find a way. We always want the perfect performance, sometimes it doesn’t quite happen but it doesn’t mean you give up. We went three at the back and went the rest attacking, and that’s what we should do in that moment. We managed to pull it off and I’m delighted with the boys.”
You have so much versatility in attack, how hard is it to find the balance?
“It’s about different games and the situations. We didn’t quite get the balance right for the first part of the game if we’re being honest, that happens, teams are allowed to stop you from scoring! We kept going, we mixed things up and because we have that flexibility we managed to find a solution.”
“It’s a huge part of it, you need to have that spur and to keep trying to find a way. We always want the perfect performance, sometimes it doesn’t quite happen but it doesn’t mean you give up. We went three at the back and went the rest attacking, and that’s what we should do in that moment. We managed to pull it off and I’m delighted with the boys.”
You have so much versatility in attack, how hard is it to find the balance?
“It’s about different games and the situations. We didn’t quite get the balance right for the first part of the game if we’re being honest, that happens, teams are allowed to stop you from scoring! We kept going, we mixed things up and because we have that flexibility we managed to find a solution.”
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