Senne Lammens names the Manchester United legend he ‘resonates with’

Senne Lammens is trying to walk in the footsteps of some great Manchester United goalkeepers, feeling there is one that really ‘resonates’ with him.

The 23-year-old is proving to be an excellent signing for the Red Devils, after his somewhat surprising arrival from Royal Antwerp in the summer.

With Andre Onana on his way out of Old Trafford, United were looking for a new first choice and eventually plumped for the young stopper who had never played outside of the Belgian league.

Lammens had not been capped by Belgium at that point either, so it seemed like a significant gamble, but it is one that is paying off.

Now a one-cap Belgium international, Lammens is only 21 games into his Manchester United career, but has ended the debate over what the club should do in the goalkeeping department, such have been his calm, impressive performances.

The summer signing says his development was helped by watching former Manchester United goalkeepers, partly David De Gea, but more so Edwin van der Sar.

‘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,’ Lammens told Premier League Productions.

‘But when I was growing up, it was 2008/2009, 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.

‘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 team-mates, 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.’

Van der Sar arrived at Manchester United in entirely different circumstances to Lammens, signing from Fulham in 2005 as a vastly experienced 34-year-old.

It may have seemed unlikely when he signed an initial two-year deal, but the Dutchman remained at the club for six seasons, making 266 appearances in all competitions.

He won four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two League Cups, before retiring in 2011.

Lammens has an awful long way to get near the achievements of Van der Sar, and former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen is not convinced he is up to the task.

‘While Senne Lammens has done well, he’s not yet at the level Manchester United needs in terms of personality, leadership, and certain aspects of his goalkeeping,’ the Dutch coach told BetGoat.

‘I still think there are some weaknesses there. Furthermore, you’re not in Europe at the moment, which presents another challenge altogether when you have to play in the Champions League against big teams.

‘For me, every good, successful team that has won trophies had an outstanding goalkeeper, an absolute outstanding goalkeeper.

‘You saw, for instance, the save that Gianluigi Donnarumma made on that deflected shot against Liverpool.

‘Otherwise, Liverpool would have gone ahead again. That’s the kind of save goalkeepers need to make. And I’m not entirely sure whether Lammens is there just yet.’