Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, has explained why he did not pick star striker Benjamin Sesko as one of the early penalty takers during their dramatic Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.
United were knocked out after a 12-11 penalty shootout loss to the League Two side on Wednesday, with Sesko stepping up only for the 11th spot-kick despite his £66 million price tag.
Former Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor had criticized Sesko, calling him a “coward” for not taking responsibility earlier in the shootout.
Speaking after United’s 3-2 win over Burnley on Saturday, Amorim clarified that his decision to hold Sesko back was due to fitness concerns.
“He finished the [Grimsby] game with cramps, really in the limit. That’s why we protected Ben from the penalties,” Amorim explained, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
The win over Burnley marked Amorim’s first Premier League victory of the season and his 7th win overall as Manchester United manager since joining in 2024.
