Andre Onana’s exit from Manchester United and subsequent replacement by Senne Lammens in 2025 has allowed Michael Carrick to benefit from Bruno Fernandes’ true potential in 2026.
The 29-year-old Cameroon international has been spending his 2025-26 season out on loan at Trabzonspor after signing for the Super Lig club last September.
Andre Onana had fallen out of favour as Manchester United No 1 early in the current campaign after Ruben Amorim turned to Altay Bayindir as his first-choice pick.
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The on-loan Red Devils shot-stopper’s death knell in his United first-team squad role came after Senne Lammens arrived at Old Trafford on deadline day last September.
Lammens became the Red Devils No 1 under former United manager Ruben Amorim ahead of Altay Bayindir and has kept his current role under Michael Carrick as well.
The 23-year-old Belgian shot-stopper’s presence has not been to the benefit of United fans, but also for Red Devils and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
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Gone are the days of major Manchester United howlers from both Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana during the reigns of both Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag.
Bayindir is now playing a distant second fiddle to Senne Lammens, who has impressed with his commanding aura in the United box in different matches.
Senne Lammens has been assured with his run of performances this season and provided much-needed – and long overdue – stability to the Man Utd backline.
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The former Royal Antwerp ace has now talked up how his key role between the sticks has benefited Man Utd attackers like Bruno Fernandes this season.
“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,” he told Premier League Productions, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“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.”
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Bruno Fernandes has been restored to his best position under Michael Carrick, who has been deploying the United captain as the No 10 in his tactical set-up.
The 31-year-old United midfielder had been playing deep in the two-man midfield pivot under Ruben Amorim before the former Red Devils boss was sacked.
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Lammens’ effective distribution has allowed Fernandes to stay further up the pitch and the Portugal international does not have to drop deep to collect the ball.
The ex-Royal Antwerp shot-stopper’s stability and consistency between the sticks have reinforced the Red Devils’ defensive approach to matches as well.
Fernandes has the ability to focus on the No 10 role and keep up his solid partnership with Bryan Mbeumo, who has been playing as the lone forward.
Lammens is right to say that not throwing the match away with a reckless error – the complete opposite of Onana – is enough to deeply impact the likes of Fernandes.
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