Gary Neville has hailed Manchester United’s ‘complete transformation’ under Michael Carrick and backed Benjamin Sesko to be a ‘game-changing’ signing for the his former club.
United’s sensational form under caretaker boss Michael Carrick continued on Sunday because the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Palace led early through Maxence Lacroix however the defended received a straight red card for denying Matheus Cunha a goalscoring opportunity just after half-time through which proved to be the defining moment in the sport.
Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting penalty against ex-United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Sesko headed the hosts in front soon after.
Sesko’s seventh goal in his last eight games proved to be enough to earn Manchester United the three points and send Carrick’s side as much as third within the Premier League.
United were outside of the Champions League places on the time of Ruben Amorim’s sacking nevertheless it is just not just results which have improved but additionally performances, with Neville describing the turnaround as a ‘complete transformation’.
Neville says £74m summer signing Sesko has been integral to United’s improved form and says he could be a ‘game-changer’ for the club by solving their striker issues.
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‘I even have to say the goal from Benjamin Sesko is an absolute beauty,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘It’s a superb header, a correct header.
‘He’s got confidence now and he got a start today which needed to occur after his recent form. The arrogance, the goals, the finishes… they’re some sensible goals he’s scoring by the best way.
‘He’s definitely improved enormously. Michael Carrick never picked him within the team, he didn’t pick him within the team until today so he’s obviously had doubts about him by way of not being right or not being quite there.
‘The goal today is really good. I feel he’s working Sesko into form and that’s a game-changer for Man United because they can’t have one other centre-forward come to the club and fail. They simply can’t.
‘[Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha have looked like United players from the beginning, just by way of their confidence, power and strength.
‘But now if Sesko can grow – and he already looks physically higher and quicker – then that could be a big, big thing.
‘If Carrick can get the most effective out of him meaning within the summer you may focus on other positions like in midfield with Casemiro leaving. You may concentrate perhaps on a full-back and a centre-back because they do still have problems in those positions still that need coping with.
‘But perhaps now you may leave the attacking players since you’ve got Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno, Amad, Mount – they are going to cause problems to any team.
‘Michael Carrick has doubled or trebled the worth of the United squad from where they were under Ruben Amorim. He’s made players that we doubted appear like really good players.
‘That may please the owners in fact because there’s been so must waste it’s unfaithful. It’s a whole transformation.’
Manchester United’s resurgence under Carrick has taken them above top-four rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool and just eight points behind second-placed Manchester City.
The Red Devils will hope to proceed their vibrant form on Wednesday night once they travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.
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