Man United goalkeeper Senne Lammens joined from Royal Antwerp on deadline day and he has enjoyed a solid start to his Old Trafford career.
Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens
Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has said he can see similarities between himself and Edwin van der Sar. Lammens joined United on deadline day last summer. After sitting out three Premier League matches, the Belgian made his debut in the 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Since then, the 23-year-old has retained his spot in goal. He has kept four clean sheets and conceded 28 goals in 22 appearances. Ahead of the trip to Everton on Monday night, Lammens was asked about the previous United goalkeepers he looked up to. He told Premier League Productions: "Growing up, of course, David de Gea was and is still a big goalkeeper in the world, especially those years when he was at his height in this club, so of course you watch him most of the time.
"But when I was growing up, it was 2008/09, that was prime United as well, so it was Van der Sar in goal then. I don't really recall one particular save… I think I also can resonate with him more.
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"Our characters are maybe a bit more alike, and just every game he was solid and he was there and he was a rock behind the defence. That's also when I always tell some teammates, because you're at this big club and you have so many good teammates, you also sometimes have to give them the possibility to shine.
"As a goalkeeper, sometimes you just don't really have to make too many big saves, you just don't want to give the game away, you always want to stay in the game. So then it's players like Bruno Fernandes or other people, attackers can make the difference in the game, so that's also something I'm trying to do, to keep my team in the game when it needs to be."
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If Lammens can have anything like the Old Trafford career Van der Sar enjoyed, United fans would be delighted. The Dutchman won the Premier League four times with United, as well as the Champions League, the Club World Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher
Edwin van der Sar celebrates winning the Premier League with Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher(Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Looking ahead to Everton, Lammens added: "I think I would say it every week that it's an important game, but especially this one for me, because our home game against them was a really tough loss, playing against ten men as well. I think we also owe it to ourselves and to the fans to keep that in mind and to get a reaction.
"I think the way we're playing right now, of course with the last five games, which were good, you just want to keep that momentum going after a week without a game."