Gary Neville has angered Manchester United supporters with a comment made about Benjamin Sesko after he scored the winner against Everton on Monday night.
The Slovenian came off the bench to bag the only goal of the game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, finishing a sweeping counter attack in emphatic fashion after being set up by Bryan Mbeumo in the 71st minute.
Sesko, a £74 million signing from RB Leipzig, notched his eighth goal of the season in all competitions and produced a passionate celebration.
The striker has still struggled to become a starting player under caretaker boss Michael Carrick but made his claim for leading the line by contributing off the bench as he did earlier this month with a 94th minute winner against Fulham.
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"It was a great finish. It was a ruthless finish," Carrick said after the game.
"I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break. I am delighted for Ben to come on and make a difference."
Still only 22, Sesko came in to be United's new number nine after an experiment with Rasmus Hojlund didn't work out and the Dane returned to Serie A with Napoli.
Opinions have been split on Sesko and whether he can be the striker United need, with Gary Neville previously calling him "awkward” on the ball and “well off it” compared to other signings earlier in the season.
While he has acknowledged that it would take Sesko some time to settle in and find his feet, even after the Everton heroics Neville isn't still all in on the former Red Bull Salzburg man.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast: "He looked a bit awkward but we saw Gyokeres yesterday and I thought it was his best performance of the season for Arsenal.
"At times he's been below par and tried to get up to speed. I think Sesko's been like that at times during this season. But he looks a lot more confident. I don’t think he is ever going to be the perfect striker, similar like I said about [Viktor] Gyokeres.
"But if he can be a handful, if he can contribute with goals, if he can hold things up, if he can link play then that'll be enough."
But while Neville was giving his opinion, plenty of United fans strongly disagreed with his take and erupted with reaction on social media.
One user on X replied: "Who is a perfect a striker? What does that even mean?"
A second commented: "Perfect striker uno. This ain’t FIFA. There’s never been a perfect striker, everyone has at least ONE flaw."
A third added: "Every time he opens his mouth nowadays I like him less and less."
A fourth wrote: "I can’t stand this Sesko slander from Neville."
Sesko will be hoping to stake a claim for a starting berth next Sunday when United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Topics: Gary Neville, Manchester United
Josh Lawless