Senne Lammens has spoken about his mentality and confidence in the Manchester United goal after an impressive start to his Old Trafford career.
Manchester United’s goalkeeping struggles have held the club back in recent years. The lack of stability in between the sticks has caused unrest in defence under several different managers, dating back to when Dean Henderson rivalled David de Gea under Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
However, Rúben Amorim may have finally solved the issue with his first goalkeeper signing since joining the club in November 2024. Senne Lammens has had a brilliant start to his United career after signing from Royal Antwerp on Transfer Deadline Day.
He didn’t make his debut until the Sunderland game before the first international break, but he has been crucial since he displaced Altay Bayindir.
United’s first-phase play – when the team has possession during their defensive third – has become much more simplified since Andre Onana’s departure, and Lammens has been crucial in its success.
Lammens reveals his “biggest strength”
Speaking on Inside Carrington, Lammens revealed his biggest strength is his composure and mentality, after being praised for it by former United goalkeeper Ben Foster.
“I think that’s one of my biggest strengths,” said the young Belgian. “It always has been a little bit, because my character [away from football] is also a bit more relaxed, at ease, like more mellow, not really going too high or too low with your feelings.
“As a goalkeeper, if you want to support the team as well, you have to be reliable and not always doing the most crazy stuff, but like just doing the simple things good.” Lammens’ mentality appears to be the polar opposite of his predeccesor, Onana.
He went on to say: “Body language is also very important. It gives off a good feeling for myself, so yeah, I agree as well. And always something I check myself on every game, that [feeling of] not doing too much or going too high in emotions.
“I think also in my second game in Liverpool, most of the guys asked me how it felt, but to be honest, being here [at United] almost every game feels the same.
“It’s the Premier League, it’s the biggest competition, and it’s always the next level for me, [pressure] is always something I’ve handled really well. The confidence in myself, as well, is a big thing.”
Lammens has helped the entire team
With Onana in goal, United’s defence looked shaky and worried, without any form of confidence in their goalkeeper, but that appears to have changed with Lammens in between the sticks.
Matthijs de Ligt is in the best form of his United career, Luke Shaw looks like a new player, and Leny Yoro looks composed at the back at such a young age.
Read More: Manchester United set for Premier League transfer battle as Jason Wilcox eyes free agent deal
Without Lammens in goal, United’s defenders would still be worried, and they wouldn’t have performed as well as they have recently. Also, they might have struggled to follow their markers into midfield, meaning Casemiro could still be struggling.
Jason Wilcox’s Transfer Deadline Day signing has been a stroke of brilliance; it will be crucial in United’s hopes for European football at the end of the campaign.
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