Image source: football365.com
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has criticized goalkeeper Senne Lammens, claiming the 23-year-old Belgian is “not good enough” to be Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper despite his impressive performances this season following his £18 million summer transfer from Royal Antwerp.
Meulensteen Questions Lammens’ Readiness as United’s Number One Goalkeeper
Lammens joined United from Royal Antwerp for £18 million in the summer, replacing Andre Onana as the Red Devils’ number one goalkeeper. The 23-year-old made just 52 senior appearances for the Belgian side before making the switch to Old Trafford and has impressed the majority with his mature performances this season.
Meulensteen, who served under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford from 2007 to 2013, believes that while Lammens is “potentially a really good goalkeeper”, he is “not ready” to be United’s number one. Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Meulensteen stated that United have “quite a few individuals in the squad who are not good enough for Man United.”
The former coach highlighted United’s defensive vulnerabilities, explaining that they “concede far too many goals” and are “not solid” defensively. Meulensteen compared United’s goalkeeping situation unfavorably to their rivals, noting that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all possess superior goalkeepers, while praising Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez as the type of goalkeeper who “wins games for you.”
Meulensteen also offered advice to incoming manager Michael Carrick, emphasizing the need to address United’s defensive issues after witnessing gaps “all over the place” during the two games under Darren Fletcher. The former coach stressed that Carrick must focus on coaching the team’s defensive shape, particularly with crucial fixtures against Manchester City and Arsenal approaching.
The Dutch coach expressed confidence in Carrick’s ability to fix the problems, describing him as “a very intelligent player” who “did a really good job at Middlesbrough.” Meulensteen believes the defensive issues are “not too difficult to fix” but acknowledged uncertainty about United’s best lineup due to ongoing problems in goal and midfield, while praising the team’s attacking options for having “plenty of power in terms of creating and scoring goals.”
