Gary Neville has retracted his early concerns regarding one of Manchester United’s summer signings, now likening him to a legendary Red Devil.
Manchester United’s bids for a top-four finish in the Premier League were strengthened on Monday night as they saw off a very solid Everton side in a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Michael Carrick’s Reds found it difficult to break down their opponents, with chances being few and far between, before substitute Benjamin Šeško eventually broke the deadlock.
The Slovenian’s 71st-minute strike was enough to secure all three points for United, as he made it three goals in his last four appearances for the Red Devils.
Although super-sub Šeško claimed most of the plaudits following United’s first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Gary Neville gave Senne Lammens his flowers for yet another impressive performance.
Neville retracts Lammens’ concerns
Speaking on Sky Sports, via The Standard, Neville admitted he had ‘concerns’ about the new United shot-stopper, although the Belgian has since proven him wrong.
The former United defender said, “The goalkeeper, I thought, was my man of the match tonight – not necessarily because he made loads of amazing saves, but everything he did he just did really calmly and well.
“The tip over the bar at the end, there was a shot that just bounced in front of him and he just held it, and then Everton had 10 corners.
“He didn’t deal with every single one but he dealt with a lot of them, and I think having a goalkeeper of composure who just does his job calmly, isn’t frantic, isn’t sort of rushing around, I think makes a big difference in moments like that when you come into a place like this and they’re putting enormous pressure on you.’
Neville continued: “I had my concerns when he came in, I thought: ‘Why would you take a chance with a goalkeeper who’s young, who’s not got the pedigree, he’s played in a different league, he’s going to come to Manchester United and it could eat him up’.
“It is early, but he looks like he’s got the temperament and he’s got the technical quality, he’s doing the right things – he holds the ball when he should hold it, he punches when he should punch, but even when he punches it’s not one of those wild punches – everything seems under control.
Neville makes ‘big future’ claim
As well as being touted for a ‘big future’ between the sticks for United, Lammens has also been compared to former United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.
Neville continued his appraisal of Lammens, saying, “This kid, he’s come in and I really have been impressed with him. He looks like he’s got a big, big future early days.
“I think overall throughout the whole period, coming in at a challenging time [with] an ever-changing defence [under Amorim], I think he’s done brilliantly well.”
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Following United’s victory, Van der Sar appeared on Sky Sports, where he claimed the young goalkeeper is doing ‘incredibly well’ in his debut season.
Speaking to the former United shot-stopper directly, Carrick said, about Lammens, “His demeanour, composure and body language is a lot of what I like to see in a goalkeeper and exactly what you brought.”
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