Senne Lammens has opened up about his biggest strengths, which make him the perfect antidote to Andre Onana following two difficult seasons with the Cameroon goalkeeper as first choice.
Ruben Amorim made some big changes to his team over the summer, including a switch in the goalkeeper department.
Altay Bayindir started the first six games in the Premier League season, leading to Senne Lammens’ arrival from Royal Antwerp. The signing of the young Belgian stopper also led to Andre Onana joining Trabzonspor on loan for the entire season.
Lammens has earned praise from Sir Alex Ferguson after a bright start between the sticks, with United unbeaten in his first five appearances for the club.
That run came to an end on Monday night as United lost 1-0 against Everton at Old Trafford, although United fans are happy with their keeper for the first time in two years because Onana never settled following his transfer from Inter Milan in 2023.
Lammens, 23, has a lot to learn, but the initial impressions have been promising.
Andre Onana playing for Trabzonspor
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Opinion: Senne Lammens is the perfect antidote to Andre Onana
In a recent interview with club media, Lammens speaks to Ben Foster about his biggest strengths as a goalkeeper.
It is already clear that Lammens has a much calmer presence between the sticks than Onana, who was guilty of taking unnecessary risks and inflicting panic on the defenders in front of him.
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Lammens prefers to go down the safe route by passing the ball to a teammate in space or by sending the ball up the pitch with a long kick.
Appearing on Inside Carrington, a new podcast produced by United, Lammens revealed his biggest strength as a keeper.
“I think that’s one of my biggest strengths,” Lammens said when asked about his character and body language on the pitch by Foster.
“It always has been a little bit because my character is also a bit more relaxed, at ease, more mellow. Not really going too high or too low with your feelings.
“I think also as a goalkeeper, if you want to be a support to the team as well, you have to be reliable and not always doing the most crazy stuff but just doing the simple things good. And, like you said, body language is also very important. It gives off a good feeling also for myself, so I agree as well.
“It’s also something I’m proud of and always something I checked myself on every game, not doing too much or going too high in emotions. I think also my second game in Liverpool, most of the guys asked me how it felt, but, to be honest, being here, almost every game feels the same.
“It’s the Premier League, it’s one of the biggest competitions and it’s always the next level for me. It is always something I’ve handled really well.”
The fact Lammens wants to refrain from the ‘crazy stuff’ makes him the perfect antidote to Onana, who has a completely different mindset and approach to goalkeeping.
Ruben Amorim is excited about Senne Lammens
He can kick long balls with a lot of quality with both feet, and that is a detail that can change the way we play the game.
Although it’s early days for Lammens at Old Trafford, the difference is like night and day when he’s compared to Onana.
Senne Lammens overcame difficulties in his youth career
Lammens also revealed that he did psychology work when he was growing up to deal with the demands he would face as a keeper.
Nowadays, he doesn’t feel like he needs it as much, but that may change given that he is playing for the biggest club in the world with extra pressure and responsibilities.
Lammens added: “When I was growing up, I had more difficulties with it because, as a young goalkeeper, it’s difficult. I wasn’t always the best one in my age group. And I also made a lot of mistakes. As a young goalkeeper, it’s really difficult sometimes to get over those mistakes. But then you just keep working on it.
“It’s also confidence, doing the work, the prep, every day in training and just having the confidence to do it in the game as well. It’s nothing different than in training. I think also having the same prep every time for a game.
“You feel at ease and the same. Warming up the same leading up to a game, so every game is quite the same, even though every game is different during the game itself. So just having that mindset a little bit.
“I did some psychology work when I was growing up, but now I don’t really need it. I help myself more and I like to journal a lot as well, to be honest, writing down a little bit after every game. It makes it easier on the mind, as well, to not always think too much after games. Just write it down and then it’s out of the head.”