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 new depths on Wednesday night after crashing out of the Carabao Cup in the second round against a side sat in 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 chance to salvage a result, a 12-11 defeat on penalties sent them crashing out at the first hurdle.
A tense shoot-out in sudden death saw every member of both teams step up to 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 net, his decision not to take one earlier in 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 very healthy record from 12 yards, scoring 11 penalties in his professional career and missing none.
The former 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 straight away to take a penalty had he still been playing in Germany – but stopped short of questioning the striker.
‘He hasn’t had any football really since joining this club,’ Parker told Metro via 32Red. ‘Suddenly, he knows what’s going on here, he is 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 am sure there is a lot of people ready to berate him and I’m sure his credentials will be questioned.
‘Would he have stepped up for Leipzig if he was still there? I think the answer would have been yes.
‘He’s a big signing thrown into the mire in a game like that with a team that hasn’t really got going. It is very difficult to do. I don’t want to be too critical.
‘It didn’t make any sense to not give him a chance at the weekend. He should have been given the opportunity in the Premier League first rather 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 action at home to newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday before the first international break of the campaign
