Senne Lammens has returned to Man Utd for the pre-season, and the most low-maintenance player for Michael Carrick is set to pose a unique challenge.
The pre-season at Man Utd is finally starting to click into gear, as Amad and Altay Bayindir have been joined by Senne Lammens and Youri Tielemans in returning to Carrington.
It remains to be seen if the duo will play against Atletico Madrid, but Michael Carrick is at least starting to get the band back together.
Senne Lammens, however, poses a unique challenge for Carrick despite being one of the most low-maintenance players in the Man Utd squad.
Youri Tielemans and Senne Lammens Arrive for Pre-Season Training
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Senne Lammens needs a safe space at Man Utd
As said above, Lammens is as close as you can get to having a “plug-and-play” player at Old Trafford due to his mentality.
It even happened during his debut against Sunderland, when he took to the most daunting position in world football, that of a Man Utd goalkeeper, like a duck to water.
You can play him and forget about him, safe in the knowledge that he’ll do his job perfectly and fly under the radar.
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However, “under the radar” is the exact opposite of what happened with him on his last appearance.
We’re talking about the World Cup knockout game against Spain, where Lammens was unexpectedly called into action after Thibaut Courtois’ injury.
That day, the United star fumbled the ball and sent Spain through at the cost of his nation, something which is very uncharacteristic for Lammens.
Since that error, Lammens has been away from the public eye, and the next appearance he makes will be in goal for Man Utd, so the scrutiny will only ramp up.
United can’t control what’s said about him outside the club, but they do need to provide a safe space for him inside the building.
Enter Carrick with his greatest skill set.
Lammens will test Michael Carrick’s man-management
Carrick is an underrated tactician, but his greatest strength is undoubtedly empowering his players to allow them to become more than the sum of their parts.
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Michael Carrick applauds the fans during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on May 17, 2026, in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
That man-management ability will be tested with the most unexpected player in Lammens the next time he is in the squad.
Carrick will undoubtedly be asked about his goalkeeper’s state of mind, and every action of Lammens is going to be analysed from here on.
Carrick is a master of putting a pin into all the scrutiny and making the life “boring” in the best possible way for his players.
He will have to do that while also empowering Lammens to get over this World Cup hump and become a better player as a result.
There is nobody better placed than Carrick to do that because of his special skill set of man-management.
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