Ruben Amorim has hailed Senne Lammens’ composed start at Manchester United, admitting he’s been “surprised” by the 23-year-old’s poise since taking over as No.1. The Belgian keeper has brought stability and confidence back to United’s back line.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has praised goalkeeper Senne Lammens for his maturity and composure since stepping into the starting XI, admitting he has been “surprised” by how quickly the young Belgian has settled into life at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old joined United from Royal Antwerp in the summer and was initially signed as backup, but an early-season crisis in goal saw him promoted ahead of Altay Bayindir — a move that now looks inspired.
From benchwarmer to backbone
United’s goalkeeping position has been a point of instability ever since David de Gea’s departure. The high-profile signing of Andre Onana was meant to usher in a new era of modern, ball-playing confidence, yet the Cameroonian’s error-strewn campaign saw him fall out of favour before eventually being moved on.
His replacement, Bayindir, offered little improvement. The Turkish keeper’s inconsistency, highlighted during United’s humiliating 3-1 defeat to Brentford, prompted Amorim to turn to Lammens — a decision that may have quietly transformed United’s season.
Thrown into the fray against Sunderland, the Belgian responded with a composed performance and a clean sheet. But it was his display at Anfield that truly captured attention: calm under pressure, confident in possession, and decisive in his distribution. It’s little wonder Amorim has been impressed.
Senne Lammens has been great. His impact surprised me a little bit, Amorim told reporters. It’s hard to come into this team at such a difficult moment, with all the noise around our goalkeepers, but he’s coped really well with the pressure. He’s been really composed.
That composure has been a breath of fresh air for a defence that looked fractured for much of last season. Lammens’ ability to play out from the back has eased the pressure on United’s centre-backs, allowing Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane to circulate possession more fluidly — a key element of Amorim’s tactical vision.
Schmeichel urges patience despite bright start
While fans have been quick to anoint Lammens as United’s next great keeper — with some even drawing premature comparisons to Peter Schmeichel — the legendary Dane himself has urged caution.
Speaking on the Monday Night Club, Schmeichel praised the youngster’s temperament but warned that the real test will come when adversity strikes.
It’s nice to see a clean sheet and a solid performance because that’s something we’ve not seen for a while, he said. He’s young and confident, but we’ll really know what kind of goalkeeper he is when he makes mistakes and has to respond to them. That’s when we’ll see his true character.
Still, Schmeichel acknowledged that the improvement in defensive stability since Lammens’ inclusion has been significant — and that his calmness under pressure is already elevating United’s overall play.
A new era between the posts
For Amorim, Lammens’ emergence has been both unexpected and timely. After a turbulent first few months marked by fan frustration and a lack of consistency, the Portuguese coach appears to have found his foundation.
Lammens’ record at Antwerp hinted at potential — 173 saves and a 77.4% save rate last season — but few could have predicted he’d adapt to Premier League intensity so seamlessly. His distribution, shot-stopping, and command of the area have restored a sense of assurance that had been missing at Old Trafford for years.
Now, with six points from two games since his promotion, Lammens has quickly become United’s first-choice keeper. His next challenge? A tricky home fixture against Brighton, where Amorim’s side will look to make it three wins in a row — something they haven’t achieved in over a year.
For a club desperate for stability and identity, Lammens’ rise is a rare bright spot — and perhaps the first sign that Manchester United’s long search for a reliable successor between the posts might finally be over.
