Senne Lammens: The Savior MU Has Been Waiting For

23/10/2025 22:52:00 soccer

Once viewed with skepticism as a goalkeeper signing, Senne Lammens is steadily demonstrating that MU’s decision to make him their first-choice keeper this season is justified through convincing displays on the pitch.

Lammens’ contribution was clearly visible in the recent 2-1 win against Liverpool. That was only the second time the Belgian shot-stopper had played for MU since joining from Antwerp during the closing phase of the summer transfer period.

A Significant Challenge for Lammens

So what’s the secret behind Lammens helping MU overcome Sunderland and Liverpool? The 23-year-old goalkeeper believes there’s nothing extraordinary: “I prepare for each game the way I always do, but you also have to be realistic because no two matches are ever the same. I just need to be myself and avoid overthinking the game.”

The pressure on MU from Ruben Amorim is obvious, as they are eager to secure a second consecutive Premier League win. The goalkeeper position has become a focal point since neither Andre Onana nor Altay Bayindir have proven reliable between the posts. The Liverpool game represented the biggest test in Lammens’ career, with his only prior full-season experience being at Antwerp in Belgium.

At just 23, Lammens is understandably not yet hardened enough to be unaffected by the noise from the Anfield stands. When Cody Gakpo equalized in the 78th minute, concerns arose about MU’s ability to hold on, as Liverpool often score late winners. However, MU managed to emulate Crystal Palace and Chelsea’s approach of punishing Liverpool with late goals themselves. This included Harry Maguire’s crucial headed goal in the 84th minute and the relentless energy and spirit MU has never lost in big matches.

Lammens displayed solid composure in goal during the matches against Sunderland and Liverpool.

Amorim is approaching his first anniversary as manager at Old Trafford, and every victory he brings to MU seems to raise more doubts than confidence. Lammens understands the significance of MU’s first back-to-back wins under Amorim: “Winning two games in a row is what we aim for to build momentum. That’s what Amorim has told us this season. There have been many disappointing moments when we wanted to gain momentum but ended up with poor results.” The Belgian keeper also revealed how Amorim handles the pressure and skepticism about his abilities: “To me, Amorim remains the same. The pressure on the coach is immense. You can sense it from outside, read it clearly, and hear about it. But he tries to shield the team from that pressure. That’s what top coaches need to do.”

Trying to Shield from External Influences

One notable aspect of the Liverpool win was Lammens’ frequent long kicks and passes, even when there were moments without a clear target striker up front. The 23-year-old goalkeeper confirmed this was not a spontaneous decision but a plan devised by MU’s coaching staff: “I don’t do it on my own. The coaches provide a lot of information. But you also have to read the game’s flow, especially right after kickoff. If everything goes according to plan, you stick to the tactics set.”

Beyond the pressure to prove himself as the solution to MU’s long-standing goalkeeper issues, Lammens also feels the intense social media spotlight since joining the club. He accepts that life at Old Trafford won’t be free from criticism if the team fails, and the best way to cope is to focus on family and close friends: “I think my social media presence has grown a lot. But people warned me about that before I came to MU. Of course, it feels great to receive praise and when your team wins. I try to maintain close relationships with friends and family so I’m not too distracted by outside noise. I understand that if you play well, you get compliments; if you don’t, it’s like watching a low-quality movie.”

Lammens’ journey to becoming a top goalkeeper at MU is still long, but if he becomes part of Amorim’s squad’s revival, everyone will have to view him in a new light.

“Lammens Could Become a World-Class Keeper

Hayk Milkon, one of Senne Lammens’ former goalkeeping coaches, believes the young keeper has the potential to rise among the world’s best: “Lammens’ style is characterized by calmness. He has a cool head and never blames anyone. He stays focused on the pitch and keeps his feet firmly on the ground.” Milkon praises Lammens’ decision-making skills and sees him as the future goalkeeper for the Belgian national team.

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