As BD Cricket Match usually focuses on cricket updates, today the spotlight shifts to Manchester United’s ongoing striker crisis. When Benjamin Sesko joined the Red Devils for a staggering €85 million, fans hoped he would end their long-standing scoring drought. Yet reality has been harsh. The 22-year-old Slovenian striker started in the Manchester Derby but delivered a lifeless display — just 20 touches, one shot, eight losses of possession, and a 57% passing success rate. After 250 minutes across five matches, he still has no goals or assists to his name.
At the Etihad, Sesko was left stranded like driftwood in a vast sea. Early in the game, he tested Donnarumma with a long-range shot and broke past Gvardiol once, only to miscontrol the ball at the decisive moment. As Manchester City tightened their grip, Sesko’s involvement faded away, and he was substituted in the 79th minute for Zirkzee.
BD Cricket Match observes that his experience mirrors that of Rasmus Højlund last season. The Danish forward averaged just 1.05 shots per game — the lowest among Premier League strikers — and fewer than three touches inside the box. Standing 1.9 meters tall, his aerial success rate was only 38%, while his first-touch error rate reached 27%. Across 37 appearances, he managed only seven goals and went 17 straight games without scoring.
Ironically, Højlund scored in his debut for Napoli after leaving Manchester United, showing the real problem lies not with the players but the system. Former United attackers are thriving elsewhere: Antony (on loan at Betis) has 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 games, and Rashford (now at Aston Villa) has already recorded 3 assists in 3 matches.
United’s tactical setup under coach Amorim has become a straitjacket. His 3-4-3 formation demands a central target man, but the wingers prefer cutting inside instead of crossing, isolating the striker. Data shows Rashford assisted Højlund only twice last season, while Bruno Fernandes failed to assist him even once. The same issue haunted Sesko, who had the fewest touches among all starters in the derby and even lower numbers in earlier matches — just 7 vs Arsenal, 17 vs Fulham, and 8 vs Burnley.
BD Cricket Match highlights how United’s midfield fails to support the attack. Fernandes, despite 86 touches, created only two chances in the derby, while Ugarte struggled alone as a holding midfielder. Fans have vented their anger online: “Sesko and Højlund suffer the same fate — no service at all!” “The system ruins the strikers, not their talent!”
This “black hole” effect continues to devour attacking players at Old Trafford. Former stars flourishing elsewhere echo Ronaldo’s old “fishbowl” theory — that United’s pressure-filled environment stifles performance. Højlund was even cheered sarcastically by home fans when subbed off, a confidence-crushing moment no young forward deserves.
Statistics confirm the crisis. Højlund’s average of 1.05 shots and under three box touches per game ranked near the bottom among elite strikers. Sesko now shows a similar pattern: 0 goals, 0 assists, and an average of just 13 touches per match. United’s attacking numbers remain bleak — 29 goals in 24 league matches last season, barely above relegation-level teams. This season, they sit 15th, with their offensive spark still missing.
Coaching decisions have deepened the mess. Bruno Fernandes is wasted on the wing, young talent Kobbie Mainoo is trapped in a defensive role, and Casemiro’s sharp decline (passing success down to 52.9%) continues unchecked. Frequent defensive blunders — six goals conceded from backline errors — only worsen things, forcing strikers to retreat and defend.
By the end of his spell, Højlund’s confidence had collapsed, leading to visible frustration and clashes with teammates. Sesko now seems to be following the same path — invisible on the pitch, hesitant in attack, and showing signs of doubt.
BD Cricket Match concludes that Manchester United’s striker problem has evolved into a systemic failure. Misaligned tactics, poor chemistry, and lack of player development have trapped every new signing in the same loop of frustration. From Antony to Højlund and now Sesko, the story keeps repeating — proof that until United fixes its structure, no forward will ever break free from its curse.