Although early reports suggested turmoil at Old Trafford, the truth following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against West Ham on February 10, 2026, tells a more nuanced story.
Michael Carrick’s side saw their flawless winning run halted at the London Stadium, and much of the attention afterward focused on Benjamin Šeško, the lively forward who stepped off the bench to salvage a crucial point. Contrary to dramatic claims of a dressing-room fallout, the situation appears to be more about tactical choices, player emotions, and a dramatic late intervention than any internal crisis.
United largely controlled possession but struggled to unlock a disciplined West Ham defense. Tomas Soucek’s goal after the break handed the hosts the advantage and threatened to end Carrick’s unbeaten spell. In response, Carrick introduced Šeško in the 69th minute in place of Matheus Cunha — a substitution that ultimately changed the game.
Deep into stoppage time, in the 96th minute, Šeško met Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery with a clever flick that found the back of the net, rescuing a draw. His late heroics quickly sparked debate, particularly regarding why a striker in such fine form had not been named in the starting lineup.
Despite scoring five times in his previous six outings, Šeško has frequently been deployed as an impact substitute. Carrick has defended this strategy as part of a broader rotation plan designed to maintain tactical flexibility during a demanding February schedule. However, many supporters believe leaving him out from the start limited United’s attacking edge and may have contributed to their struggles before the equalizer.
Fan reaction has been strong, with polls indicating widespread dissatisfaction over what some view as overly cautious tactics. Many argue that Šeško’s influence from kickoff could have prevented the second-half setback altogether.
Carrick, however, stood by his approach in his post-match remarks, admitting the team lacked sharpness but pointing to fixture congestion as a factor. Šeško, while refraining from open criticism, appeared eager to prove he merits greater responsibility within the squad.
The draw does little damage to United’s Champions League ambitions, especially with Chelsea failing to capitalize elsewhere. Still, the pattern of relying on late interventions rather than consistent attacking cohesion raises questions about sustainability.
Carrick’s challenge moving forward will be striking the right balance between squad rotation and maximizing the influence of key players early in matches. While United remain unbeaten under his guidance, the clash at West Ham served as a timely reminder that depending on last-gasp brilliance is not a reliable long-term strategy.
