Former Manchester United star Paul Parker has defended Benjamin Sesko after his reluctance to take a penalty against Grimsby Town.
United’s woes plummeted to latest depths on Wednesday night after crashing out of the Carabao Cup within the second round against a side sat within the fourth tier of English football.
Ruben Amorim’s side were two goals down after half an hour at Blundell Park and while goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire gave them the prospect to salvage a result, a 12-11 defeat on penalties sent them crashing out at the primary hurdle.
A tense shoot-out in sudden death saw every member of each teams step as much as take a penalty, including goalkeepers Christy Pym and Andre Onana.
Sesko was the last outfield player to take a spot kick for United just before the goalkeepers stepped up. While he hit the back of the web, his decision to not take one earlier within the shoot-out was described as a ‘major red flag’ by fans on social media.
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Defenders Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt all stepped up before the £74million signing who has a really healthy record from 12 yards, scoring 11 penalties in his skilled profession and missing none.
The previous RB Leipzig star was starting his first game for United after coming off the bench against Arsenal and Fulham but did little to ease concerns over how the club’s goal-shy attack will improve this season.
Former England full-back Parker believes Sesko would have had no issue stepping up right away to take a penalty had he still been playing in Germany – but stopped wanting questioning the striker.
‘He hasn’t had any football really since joining this club,’ Parker told Metro via 32Red. ‘Suddenly, he knows what’s happening here, he’s seeing the pressure and feeling it too against a fourth-tier team.
‘I just think he’s been too honest, he just didn’t fancy it at that moment in time. I understand it. I’m sure there’s a variety of people able to berate him and I’m sure his credentials will probably be questioned.
‘Would he have stepped up for Leipzig if he was still there? I believe the reply would have been yes.
‘He’s a giant signing thrown into the mire in a game like that with a team that hasn’t really got going. It is vitally difficult to do. I don’t need to be too critical.
‘It didn’t make any sense to not give him a probability on the weekend. He must have been given the chance within the Premier League first quite than that environment last night.’
United’s season is already under scrutiny just three games in after a dismal 15th place finish last season.
They return to motion at home to newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday before the primary international break of the campaign