Ruben Amorim pleasantly ‘surprised’ by Senne Lammens after promising start at Man Utd

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Senne Lammens is already having a positive impact at Manchester United, despite playing just two games since his summer transfer from Royal Antwerp.

Ruben Amorim made big changes at the start of the season that will shape Manchester United for the 2025/26 season and beyond.

Andre Onana lost his place in the team as Altay Bayindir started the initial Premier League matches. That led to Onana joining Trabzonspor on loan for the full season, while Bayindir has new competition for a place between the sticks.

United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth £18.2 million, despite his limited experience.

Amorim initially waited to introduce the young goalkeeper, but he kept a clean sheet on his debut as United beat Sunderland 2-0. Lammens also performed exceptionally in the 2-1 win over Liverpool last weekend, making key saves and offering solid distribution.

It was Lammens’ first time playing at Anfield, but his performance ‘surprised’ Amorim in a way that will likely see him remain the first-choice goalkeeper.

Ruben Amorim explains how Senne Lammens surprised him

There is no denying that Lammens has made a huge impact in his first two games at United.

For starters, the clean sheet Lammens kept against Sunderland was United’s first of the season.

The young Belgian built on that performance by helping United secure their first win at Anfield since 2016. Lammens made a crucial save to deny Alexander Isak during the first half, and his long kicks were hugely effective (much to Arne Slot’s annoyance).

Speaking at his press conference at Carrington on Friday, Amorim was asked whether Lammens’ impact on the team had surprised him.

“I think a little bit because it’s hard in the moment of our club, all the speculation around the goalkeepers, he’s not a young kid but he’s still young,” Amorim said.

“He coped really well with the pressure, he’s really composed, he’s defending really well. The importance of playing with both feet to kick the ball is so important nowadays, especially when you have to play against Liverpool in a more direct style. I’m a little bit surprised, but I was expecting a talented guy. But yes, a little bit surprised.”

Amorim believes United can improve with their new direct approach. It makes the team more flexible tactically and shows that Lammens is doing more than keeping the ball out of the net. He is also contributing at the other end of the pitch.

He added: “I think you can see [progress] if you watch all the games. That game was different. If you have to point at a team who can control games with the ball, it is City or against Arsenal at the end of the game. Every team has to adapt and we adapt.

“We struggled to have long possessions against Liverpool, but if you go to the Arsenal game, it was completely different. Sometimes it is the environment, which is the first part we miss.

“Some players who are in different positions, who can give us more direct play than playing with the ball. We want to play a different style. Our style is a different style but I’m really pleased for the adaptation of winning games. Sometimes we are struggling but we can manage some things to win games and that is really important. If you judge our eight games, you know clearly what game we want to play.”

Next test for Senne Lammens: Brighton

Lammens will make his third United appearance against Brighton this evening.

However, in recent memory, Brighton have been getting the better of United. This is something Amorim will want to address quickly.

Brighton did the double over United last season and scored five goals in the two games.

The Seagulls have also scored six goals in their previous two trips to Old Trafford.

Lammens’ next test won’t be an easy one, facing players like Danny Welbeck and potentially Kaoru Mitoma.