Simon Mignolet has heaped praise on Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who has made a strong start to life at Old Trafford following his summer move
Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has sung the praises of new Manchester United shot-stopper Senne Lammens and insists he won’t crumble under pressure if he commits a costly error. Lammens has hit the ground running and made a huge impression since his £18.2million summer move.
The Belgian joined United on deadline day, signing a five-year contract, and his since established himself as the club’s No 1 keeper. The 23-year-old is considered among Europe’s most promising young keepers and has already made his mark during his initial period at M16.
Lammens secured a clean sheet on his United bow against Sunderland before delivering another assured display in Sunday’s 2-1 triumph over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. United’s decision to sign a new goalkeeper represents a U-turn from previous comments made by Ruben Amorim, who insisted that he would be sticking with Andre Onana and Altay Bayındır.
That decision has already paid dividends with Lammens earning widespread praise for his early performances. And if Mignolet’s comments are anything to go by, United have got themselves a much more dependable keeper between the sticks than they’ve had in years.
Speaking about the Belgian, Mignolet offered his assessment on what makes his fellow countryman so exceptional, having shared the pitch with him at Club Brugge in Belgium’s top flight.
“He has the build and the qualities to succeed in England. He’s big, explosive, and strong on high balls. And he can save balls that other goalkeepers can’t,” Mignolet said, via Voetbal Primeur.
“With his shot-stopping, he can score points for United. He’s steady in his head and handles pressure well.”
Crucially for United supporters – and something that will undoubtedly be music to their ears – Mignolet disclosed that Lammens possesses the mental fortitude to recover from setbacks, something previous keeper Onana struggled with. Mignolet added: “He has the ability to bounce back after a mistake and stay calm.”
United’s goalkeeping woes have been a persistent headache for some time, but Lammens’s promising early displays will provide massive hope for Red Devils supporters following the tribulations of Onana and Bayındır. Onana was ultimately loaned out to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor for the season after a series of costly blunders.
Former United skipper Gary Neville has previously voiced his conviction that the Red Devils require shot-stoppers with a commanding presence and strong mentality.
Reflecting on Bayındır’s mistake during August’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Neville told Sky Sports: “When the goalkeeper is flapping at the ball, those 72,000 home fans are groaning and that sends a shiver through the spines of defenders. It also sends a shiver through the goalkeeper and creates an anxiety around the stadium.
“You’ve got to have personality, stability and character in that position.”
Lammens seems to possess these qualities, judging by testimonials from Mignolet and other former colleagues.
Former Fulham defender Denis Odoi, who witnessed Lammens’s abilities firsthand at both Club Brugge and Antwerp, has outlined why the promising keeper could match the template Neville has demanded at Old Trafford.
“Senne is rather introverted, even in the dressing room. He’s not very exuberant. That calmness is typical of his personality,” he said.
“He’s very conscientious. He really does everything he can to make sure he can’t blame himself for anything.
“Sometimes we’d come back from a match against Club Brugge at 1 a.m. and he’d still be in the gym. Because he hadn’t played as a second-choice goalkeeper, he wanted to get some work done.”
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