- New Slovenia boss fires warning at United
- Sesko withdrew from international duty
- Expected back for Leeds game
Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar has warned Manchester United over the international availability of striker Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko withdrew from Slovenia’s latest round of international friendlies earlier this week. He is recovering from a knock that he has been playing with in recent games. Cesar’s side plays Hungary on Saturday and Montenegro on Tuesday.
Teammate Bryan Mbuemo also withdrew from Cameroon’s matches as a precaution. The pair have been vital for Michael Carrick and he’ll want them at full fitness to help seal Champions League qualification.
Slovenia boss and United in potential stand-off
Slovenia manager Cesar accepted Sesko’s withdrawal, but wanted his medical staff to check the player over themselves. He said (via MailSport):
“Normally the national team is crucial for us, a little less so for them (United), but it’s better for Benjamin not to train for these 14 days.”
Given that the Red Devils don’t play again until 13 April, United were happy for Sesko to travel to his home nation to spend some time there regardless. Cesar confirmed:
“Our medical department immediately assessed that it would not be good for him to play.”
Although Cesar has let it go on this occasion, he has warned that future miscommunication or misprioritisation by United will be called out. He said:
“We have to value ourselves. We are a small country, but this is a national team. For me, and I am the responsible one, there will be no deviation here.”
Cesar only took over as Slovenia boss in January. The 43-year-old was a centre-back who had a brief spell at England in his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion in 2007/08.
This is not the first time he has been in a war of words with someone related to Manchester United. In 2010, he accused United legend Wayne Rooney of purposefully trying to injure him.
Sesko’s Former Boss Fired
In November, Sesko’s previous national team manager, Matjaž Kek, was dismissed by Slovenia. His team failed to beat Kosovo in the World Cup qualification, which ultimately cost him his job. But before that, he had a go at United too.
Sesko was injured in a game against Tottenham, but the Reds were accused of poor communication about his fitness. Kek said:
“With all due respect to a great club like Man Utd, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents. We want our medical team to take a look at it. Our doctor is an expert in this field, we don’t have just anyone in this position.”
United must be careful so as not to damage relations between Sesko and his future selection for the national team. The current friendlies feel meaningless in light of Slovenia’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. It would have been unwise to have risked the former RB Leipzig striker when he was already carrying a knock.
The next two weeks will give the striker an extended break to regain fitness. He was seen completing light training in Manchester on Tuesday. He is expected to be fit for United’s next match against rivals Leeds United.
Mbuemo has generally been preferred by United boss Michael Carrick. But the misfiring Cameroonian may have to make room for the Slovenian against a physical Leeds side.
