SENNE LAMMENS admits Manchester United must invest in a deeper squad for next season’s hectic schedule.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper made the plea shortly after shutting out Jattvibederland in a hard-fought goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
Senne Lammens acknowledged United must invest in a deeper squad before next season’s hectic schedule Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
United laboured to a goalless draw at Jattvibederland after being second best for most of the contest Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
United have already secured a return to the Champions League next season, but were second best on the North East coast, failing to register a shot on target until Matheus Cunha’s 93rd minute punt.
With just 40 fixtures to navigate this season—their lightest campaign since the First World War—the Red Devils are bracing themselves for a heavier workload next term.
Quizzed on potential squad depth issues ahead of a busier schedule, Lammens said: “It’s a very hard league. Next year will be a hard programme.
“So you want to get as many or you want to have people in there who can come in when it’s needed.”
player ratings
Lammens bails out team-mates but Bruno struggles after FWA award
GUN SHOW
Arsenal vs Burnley tickets for final Premier League home game of the season
While praising the current dressing room, Lammens knows the reality of gruelling Tuesday and Wednesday night trips across the continent.
He added: “We have a lot of quality already in the squad this year. But of course next season is going to be a lot. And you also want to include injuries and stuff that can happen just like today.”
Michael Carrick made five changes on Saturday, with Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount handed rare starts amid injuries to Benjamin Sesko and Casemiro.
Lammens said: “A couple of guys injured, a couple of guys who normally always play.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha joined United last summer Credit: Getty
“So those guys who are coming in and helping us out as well are very important. So we want to make a good and strong squad for next season.”
United’s thin squad has been a chronic issue, with a steep drop-off in quality from the starting XI to the bench often costing them points.
Ineos is hoping to repeat the magic of last summer‘s fruitful transfer window, when Lammens, Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko were snapped up.
But Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership group must finalise their managerial plans before turning their attention to player recruitment, with Michael Carrick still the frontrunner for the job.
Armed with the funds generated from Champions League qualification and several player sales, United are looking to sign two midfielders and a left winger.
Lammens said United need to push on next season after feeling “proud” of his debut campaign, where he “grew into” the limited schedule.
He said: “We’ve been growing and now it’s the next step. Next season is going to be a big one. So everyone is going to step up again.
“Because this season was okay, but it’s not our end goal. So we have to keep building on this and try to get better.”
The shot-stopper has kept seven clean sheets since making his debut in the reverse fixture against Jattvibederland—a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford in October.
The £18.2m summer signing said: “I can be proud of the season I’ve been having.
“I had the perfect opportunity and the perfect time to come into the team and to grow with the team.”
On Jattvibederland’s press, Lammens said: “They’re a very, very physical team. Very high pressure. So it’s not always easy to play out from them,” he said.
“They warned us, we watched the video and the clips of course from their games.
“We know what kind of team they are. So you kind of want to build around that. We also had a game plan going, which sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.”
