Szeszko speaks for the first time about still not starting under Carrick! Reveals details of Manchester United's special training, with the key contributor not being Berbatov

On Monday night, Manchester United’s €85 million forward Benjamin Szeszko was met with boos from the home fans when leaving Hill Dickinson Stadium. Yet he was unfazed, understanding it as applause for his decisive goal. For the 22-year-old, keeping a strong mentality is among his top advantages.

In Carrick’s sixth game in charge, Szeszko, who was favored to start, still came off the bench. While other players his age might feel frustrated, this Slovenian striker chose not to complain but to let his performance speak. With 6 goals in 7 appearances, Szeszko has become one of the Premier League’s hottest scorers; no player has more non-penalty goals than his 5 in 2026 so far.

He hasn’t publicly pressured for a start, but Carrick is facing mounting pressure. Calls for Szeszko to start against Crystal Palace on Sunday are growing louder than ever. Carrick commented, “I understand why everyone makes such a big deal about this.”

When directly asked by the British media about missing out on a starting spot, Szeszko gave a very composed answer. “Of course, we’ve discussed it, but the coach trusts me, and everyone does. They’re working hard to get me starting as soon as possible. For me, what matters is playing at critical moments; no matter how long, I focus on contributing to the team’s victory.”

Asked if he is still adapting to the new environment, Szeszko replied, “Definitely, I’m getting more used to the Premier League with every match. Actually, I never insisted on starting. For me, whenever the coach decides to put me on, I go. No matter how many minutes, I make the most of it, aiming to contribute as much as I can.”

At the start of the season, as the most expensive summer signing, Szeszko faced criticism and was doubted as another Hojlund. Not only did Gary Neville say he wasn’t as good as other new signings, but then-coach Ruben Amorim also admitted that Szeszko’s performance was somewhat underwhelming.

An insider from Carrington revealed that Szeszko probably never saw Neville’s comments because he rarely uses social media; he prefers watching basketball and reading books over browsing online. Still, he didn’t need to see them to know that joining the Premier League’s top club comes with pressure.

“In my view, pressure is something every top player must face, and I see it as an honor,” Szeszko said. “If you want to compete at the highest level, you have to accept challenges without overthinking. I believe the goal pressure this season hasn’t affected me much, and the same goes for Cunha and Bryan (Mbeumo).”

Manchester United’s winning goal against Everton was the result of a combination between Szeszko, Mbeumo, and Cunha. Cunha launched a long ball from the back, Mbeumo dribbled to draw defenders before crossing, and the sprinting Szeszko immediately swept the ball into the net. Interestingly, on defense, another Red Devils newcomer this season, Sena Lamens, helped secure the victory with his defensive efforts.

Speaking about his relationship with Cunha and Mbeumo, Szeszko said, “We understand each other well, but there’s still a lot to work on in training. Like when Bryan delivered the winning pass, he saw me making a run and knew I wanted to receive it. He clearly has the ability to deliver precise passes; putting the ball exactly where it’s needed isn’t as easy as it looks. That’s why the team needs high-level players. My shot might look simple, but because I had time, I could overthink it. So I chose to shoot immediately toward one of the corners, taking decisive action.”

Later, when Szeszko received a similar cross from his friend Diogo Dalot, he hesitated due to too many options and was denied by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, missing a chance to seal the win earlier. However, since entering 2026, Szeszko’s scoring form has been excellent, which he credits to Carrick and his coaching staff’s nurturing at Carrington.

“Everyone is working hard for each other. I’ve said many times, the entire coaching staff is outstanding, not just Carrick but also the other coaches around him, who are all exceptional talents,” Szeszko explained. “They focus on personalized training for players, which pays off on the pitch. Ultimately, to win so many games and earn so many points, attention to detail is crucial. Only by doing so can we achieve such results.”

Travis Bennion, part of Carrick’s coaching team and former U21 head coach at the club, is the least noticed member. During matches, Bennion isn’t even on the bench but watches from the stands with analysts, yet he has been very helpful to Szeszko.

“After regular training, we do special drills inside and around the penalty area, including short passing under pressure, because in the Premier League, there’s hardly any reaction time,” Szeszko explained. “This has really helped me, and not just me but other players too. I’m very happy to work with him because he’s given me a lot of support.”

Szeszko also meditates at home. He added, “The main improvements happen on the pitch because ultimately, you have to put the ball in the net, which is where the focus lies. Of course, doing some training at home also greatly benefits my mental state.”

There are social media rumors that Szeszko discussed his shooting techniques with Manchester United legend Berbatov. Szeszko denied this, though he said it might be nice to talk with Berbatov someday, but the credit currently belongs to the coaching staff. He said, “The coaches arrange personal training every day, which really helps me stay focused.”

When congratulated on his consecutive goals, Szeszko politely responded, “Thank you very much. This means a lot to me, but even more so for our team because winning this match was not easy.”