Senne Lammens has broken down why he felt the centre-back partnership between Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven was so effective for Manchester United against Chelsea.
Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven started in defence for Manchester United on Saturday evening for the Premier League visit to Stamford Bridge.
Michael Carrick had to rely on Mazraoui operating as a makeshift centre-back after losing multiple United first-team defenders to either suspensions or injuries.
Mazraoui stepped up in a big way alongside Red Devils teenager Heaven in United’s 1-0 Premier League win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
Here’s how the Premier League table looks now this weekend’s games are complete – Confident??
There's no way United will blow a top five place!
Senne Lammens explains that Man Utd’s overall dynamic included the roles of Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven
Both Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven completed the full 90 minutes on Saturday evening, with Manchester United securing a huge victory over Chelsea.
Speaking about Mazraoui and Heaven after the match, Senne Lammens said: “Just like not trying anything too difficult. Sometimes you come in and you maybe want to show yourself too much, especially for young guys.”
United legend Michael Carrick was unable to rely on his first-choice centre-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez due to their red card suspensions.
Lammens insisted that the partnership of Mazraoui and Heaven required the two to support one another and all of their teammates rallied behind them as well.
“It’s not easy, so I think they both did a good job and of course Nous [Mazraoui] playing centre-back when he’s normally a right-back, which is not always the easiest,” he told The National.
“But I think today you couldn’t tell he wasn’t a centre-back his whole life.
“So, playing together as well, helping each other out and also the team helping them out. It was a hard-fought team win.”
How good was Ayden Heaven against Chelsea?! What a performance!
Senne Lammens’ praise for Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven’s Man Utd centre-back partnership against Chelsea
With both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez suspended, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt were also absent from the Chelsea match due to their respective injuries.
Lammens claimed that both Mazraoui and Heaven rose to the occasion amid the Red Devils securing a major Premier League win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
“Everyone performed and especially those two guys I have to praise a lot,” he explained.
“I mean, we did a good job today, but it’s not there yet, we’re not finished yet, and as well, even if we get it [Champions League qualification], we still want to win those last remaining games.
“Of course, that’s the first goal, but the next goal is also to keep looking up, and you never know.”
Man Utd will now return to Premier League action at Old Trafford next Monday, with the Red Devils hosting Brentford for an 8pm kick-off in the UK.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
