Vladimir Smicer's Challenge to Benjamin Sesko: Prove You Can Be Manchester United's Star

Vladimir Smicer has thrown down a challenge to both Michael Carrick and Benjamin Sesko – trust the striker, and let him prove he can be Manchester United’s Golden Boot winner.

Right now, Sesko is the only recognised senior number nine in the squad. The only natural centre-forward. Yet he’s still waiting for a Premier League start.

Carrick has preferred Matheus Cunha through the middle, with Joshua Zirkzee also an option in that role, even though neither is an out-and-out striker. Sesko, meanwhile, has been pushed to the fringes domestically, used from the bench in the league while starting in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

He hasn’t exactly disappeared. The 23-year-old Slovenia international, a £73.7 million signing from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025, has two goals in six appearances across all competitions this season. One of them – a powerful header against Everton after coming on as a substitute – caught the eye of Smicer.

“Benjamin Sesko can win the Golden Boot at Manchester United if they trust him to start games because of his size and he’s also very fast, and he scored a nice goal with that header against Everton after coming on as a sub but he was on the bench again the Manchester derby,” Smicer told Grosvenor Sport.

That’s the tension at Old Trafford right now. A big-money striker, built for the role, watching key league games from the bench.

Smicer’s message to Sesko is blunt: patience, yes – but not passivity.

“He has to be patient again after last season and wait for his chance, because he will get that chance, and when he does he needs to show that he deserves to keep his place.

“He needs to be more hungry for that opportunity, not just the goals, I think.

“When he’s on the pitch, when he gets his chance from Michael Carrick, he must show him that from now on it’s only me who starts up front for the goals, for the pressing, for everything.”

Smicer doesn’t hide his frustration. He wants to see more edge, more insistence, from the striker.

“I probably haven’t seen that from him yet but he needs to play.

“He can’t give his manager a choice.

“Sesko needs to be the player whose performances tell Carrick you do not put on the bench again.

“I’m here.

“I need to play every game.”

For now, the numbers say squad player. The price tag and profile say leading man. At some point this season, Carrick will have to decide which version of Benjamin Sesko he truly believes in.