Unsung hero: £18m star is silently driving the stunning Man United revival
Manchester United have surged up to fourth place in the league table after putting together an impressive run of three consecutive victories.
Caretaker head coach Michael Carrick has unleashed his side to play with freedom and entertain the crowd.
United are always scrutinised with an intense (and often unfair) lens. That is a byproduct of being one of the biggest clubs in the world.
It has gone under the radar that the Red Devils have lost only two of their last 18 Premier League games.
One of those was a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Everton, while the other came in a narrow 2-1 loss to a high-flying Aston Villa side.
Different heroes have stepped up in different moments, but one constant presence throughout this run has been goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Lammens made his United debut at the start of this sequence in the 2–0 victory over Sunderland.
Since then, he has produced a string of crucial saves and has brought a commanding presence between the posts.
United have often looked vulnerable from set-pieces in the past, but Lammens has shown bravery and authority by stepping off his line to claim or punch the ball clear.
At just 23, mistakes are inevitable. Many tend to forget he is adapting from the Belgian league to the most demanding league in the world, while playing for a club where every error is ruthlessly scrutinised.
The difference in quality and confidence compared to his predecessor has already been striking.
In the most recent match, Fulham’s Harry Wilson unleashed a left-footed free-kick that Lammens picked up late due to a crowded penalty area.
Despite being wrong-footed, Lammens still managed to pull off an outstanding save to keep United in front.
For comparison, Andre Onana conceded from a similar free-kick when Hakim Ziyech, then on loan at Galatasaray, scored in the Champions League in 2023.
Back in December, United drew a thrilling 4-4 with Bournemouth, but the Cherries could have stolen the win in stoppage time if not for two magnificent late saves from Lammens.
The Belgian is expected to battle for the number one spot next season with academy goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who is currently enjoying an outstanding loan spell at Bristol City in the Championship.
Even so, few can deny that the early signs are hugely encouraging, and Lammens already looks like a bargain at £18.2 million in today’s inflated market.
Stats from Fotmob.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .