Manchester United will experience far more stiffer tests of their Champions League credentials than Sabah FK gave them at Old Trafford.
In fact, it would be no surprise if the Azerbaijan champions were by some distance the weakest of the eight league stage opponents Michael Carrick’s side will come up against.
However, there were some important lessons for Carrick to absorb.
The biggest of them is United are a much more effective unit when Benjamin Sesko starts.
This was the first time the Slovenian had done that since the Liverpool game last March, when he finally accepted he could no longer play through the shin issue that had been plaguing him for a number of weeks.
It had been hoped Sesko would be fit for the start of the Premier League season.
As it turned out, he was only at the stage where he could be brought on as a substitute in the second half of the opening day trip to Hull. The same also applied for the subsequent outings against Ipswich and Everton.
It was Sabah FK’s bad luck Sesko was fit to start against them – and it showed.
At 6ft 5in, the 23-year-old has a physical presence United’s other strikers lack.
While it has been unfortunate Amad Diallo’s current absence has robbed Carrick of the option to start Bryan Mbeumo at the head of his attack, as he did during pre-season, Matheus Cunha is not without ability.
The problem is the Brazilian likes to drift and drop back into space, which leaves a gap at the apex of Manchester United‘s attack.
Sesko offers a totally different threat. He pushes defences back. He is not easy to dispossess. He runs at opponents rather than away from them.
He also scores goals.
At Everton, it was his size that allowed him to convert a close-range header that should have given United victory but didn’t.
Against Sabah FK, he had already threatened with an impudent first half back flick when Bryan Mbeumo sent him running beyond the visitors’ defence.
Sesko had clarity of thought, swiftly moving the ball past goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov before steering the ball into an empty net.
“Of course, I’m happy with my goal,” Sesko told TNT.
“I saw him rushing out, and it was a great opportunity to take the ball away from him and make the goal a little bit easier.”
It’s not that Mbeumo and Cunha can’t do that, it is more that Sesko can do it in addition to presenting the physical threat.
Good control for a big man is one of football’s oldest cliches. Yet the players who can combine size with skill and pace are exceptionally useful.
“He definitely offers a different kind of threat,” said Carrick.
“That’s the beauty of it, really. We know what Ben gives us. There’s not many around that kind of give you what Ben does in terms of his physique, his physicality, playing on the last line and his speed to run in behind. He’s a real threat.
“It’s great to have him back at this level after working to get his fitness back.
“A couple of goals and good performances, and good minutes in him. I’m really pleased with the way he’s gone.”
