The goalkeeper for Manchester United, Senne Lammens, revealed the secrets behind his impressive start to his career at Old Trafford following a “brutally fantastic” performance against Everton on Monday night. David Moyes’ assessment after the Red Devils’ 1-0 victory was clear: Lammens’ performance not only exceeded expectations but also brought a new breath of fresh air to the team’s goalkeeping position, which has been in search of stability.
The match was marked by a deluge of crosses from Everton, who expected the young Belgian to succumb under the pressure of the blue shirts. However, at just 23 years old, Lammens stood out at Hill Dickinson Stadium, showcasing a confidence and command that few United goalkeepers have managed to display in recent years, especially considering the inconsistent form of Andre Onana and Altay Baynindir.
During a question and answer session at a primary school in Manchester, Lammens expressed his humility and his desire to be seen not just as an athlete, but as an ordinary person. “I try to show the world that I’m just a normal guy, to show these kids that anyone can make it,” he said, referring to the World Book Day event organized by the United Foundation. “It’s one of the best feelings when you walk into a classroom and see the kids cheering for you with wide eyes. It wasn’t long ago that I was there. I can remember those times.”
For Lammens, the essence of his job as a goalkeeper lies in protecting the goal, but he also takes pride in the other skills required in modern football. “The first thing you have to do as a goalkeeper is to make saves. But I take great pride in doing the other things well. It may not always be what shines, but if you understand a bit about goalkeeping, that’s so important for your teammates to trust you and help the team.”
Edwin van der Sar, a legend of United and one of the best goalkeepers in history, praised Lammens, stating that he “seems to have everything” needed to handle the pressure at Old Trafford. Current goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the Belgian national team, Thibaut Courtois, also expressed admiration for his compatriot, describing him as an “immense talent” with a style “very suited to the Premier League.”
Lammens emphasized that he was aware of the “physicality” of English football, which has been a hurdle for many players coming from Europe. However, he showed unwavering confidence. “I was always told that England was the best league, but that physicality is the biggest difference. It has always been a strength of mine, even in Belgium. Now there are more bodies in front of you. You have to be big and not be easily pushed around.”
Manchester United signed Lammens from Royal Antwerp on the last day of the summer transfer window for an initial fee of £18.1 million. This amount made him one of the best signings in the Premier League this season, with few players offering better value for money since the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. However, the story could have been different. If the club’s management had listened to Ruben Amorim, who was in charge of United when Lammens arrived in Manchester, the young goalkeeper would never have been signed. Amorim preferred the experience of Emiliano Martinez, the Argentina goalkeeper and World Cup champion, but the club hierarchy decided to ignore the coach’s request and follow the advice of goalkeeper scout Tony Coton, who had advocated for Lammens’ signing for eighteen months.
With feelings of caution, Lammens concluded his analysis of his promising start: “I said a few weeks ago that I couldn’t imagine it could go better, but I don’t want to look too much at the past. It’s great, but I still need to prove myself every week. I’m not satisfied with that. I’m happy that everything has gone well, but it’s not the end.” United fans, in turn, feel a sense of relief seeing that Lammens’ start marks the end of the problems that have plagued the goalkeeping position in recent years, fueling hopes that a more effective recruitment model is finally in place at Old Trafford.
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