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Senne Lammens Delivers Clean Sheet on Crucial Manchester United Debut The Belgian goalkeeper, signed in a late summer transfer, made a composed and decisive first start for Manchester United, helping secure a much-needed victory and easing pressure on manager Ruben Amorim. Senne Lammens, the 23-year-old Belgian international, marked his long-awaited debut for Manchester United with an assured performance, contributing significantly to a 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday. The match was a moment of acute focus for the club, which had endured a turbulent start to the campaign marked by defensive instability. Lammens' display, culminating in the team’s first clean sheet of the season, immediately thrust the former Royal Antwerp stopper into the discussion for the permanent number one position. The Belgian was unexpectedly named in the starting XI ahead of the previous first-choice goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, in what manager Ruben Amorim described initially as a rotation decision. However, the performance went beyond mere routine, injecting a visible sense of composure into a United back line that had struggled for authority. Lammens was only called upon to make three key saves, but his commanding presence in the box and decisive handling of high crosses were noted by analysts, addressing an area that has concerned supporters in recent seasons. His composure was evident in the first half when he produced a sharp stop to deny a long-range effort from Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka. This singular moment of decisive action drew warm applause from the Stretford End, with some sections of the crowd reportedly chanting "Are you Schmeichel in disguise?", a reference to the club’s legendary Danish goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel. The rapid endorsement from the Old Trafford faithful underscores the desire for stability in a position that has been unsettled since the departure of David De Gea.
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Following the victory, which saw goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko, manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the impact of his new signing, while emphasising the collective effort. "Senne did a great job, gave us confidence. It was a good day, not a perfect day, but to win like this, a clean sheet, is important for our team," Amorim stated in his post-match assessment. The Portuguese coach also offered insight into the timing of the debut, explaining that the club had been careful to manage the transition for the young player. "When Senne arrived here, first of all, Altay was playing, and then he arrives, and you can feel it, that he needs to adapt," Amorim noted. "New country, new training, the pressure that you guys [the media] put on the goalkeepers are massive. So, it was a little preparation for the guy to be ready to start his first game. He did well and was comfortable during the game, and that is a very good sign. " Lammens’ arrival at Old Trafford on the final day of the summer transfer window in September 2025, for a reported fee of around £18 million, was considered a strategic, long-term acquisition. His move from Royal Antwerp came after a standout 2024/25 campaign in the Belgian Pro League, where he had established himself as one of the most statistically impressive young goalkeepers in Europe.
According to data compiled by Opta, Lammens made more saves (173) than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top-10 leagues last season. Crucially, his performance defied expected goals (xG) models; he was credited with preventing approximately 13 more goals than he should have, saving 0. 5 more goals per game than the average goalkeeper. This high-level consistency, alongside an impressive track record as a penalty specialist—saving four out of six penalties faced in the league last season—made him a compelling target. His profile also suggests an ability to handle the physical demands of English football. Standing at 1. 93 m (6ft 4in), Lammens has demonstrated strong aerial command. Over the last year, Lammens ranked in the 99th percentile for crosses stopped among goalkeepers in peer leagues, suggesting a robustness in dealing with balls into the box that United’s previous keepers sometimes lacked. Defender Luke Shaw, who returned to the side recently, praised the new signing, saying: “He's been really good, looks really sharp – I've been really impressed with him and I’m really looking forward to playing with him. ” The initial response from the Belgian press reflected satisfaction with Lammens' successful transition to the higher demands of the Premier League.
Public broadcaster Sporza described the debut scenario as "perfect" and praised his approach: "It was striking how he constantly connected with his backline and made adjustments. Sober, precise, and controlling. " The publication concluded that Lammens had "more than left his mark. " Lammens’ trajectory has been swift. After rising through the ranks at Club Brugge, where he served as understudy to Simon Mignolet, he moved to Royal Antwerp in 2023. By the 2024/25 season, he had secured the number one spot and earned his first senior call-up to the Belgium national team in March 2025. He is widely viewed as a long-term candidate to eventually succeed Thibaut Courtois for the Red Devils. The clean sheet against Sunderland has provided a temporary lift at Old Trafford and presents Amorim with a difficult decision heading into the next league match. Lammens’ immediate challenge, following the upcoming international break, is likely to be a far tougher assignment: an away trip to face title contenders Liverpool at Anfield. His ability to maintain the level of composure and statistical efficiency he demonstrated in Belgium and on his debut will determine whether he can firmly establish himself as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.
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