Manchester United is circling the wagons around Senne Lammens after a World Cup quarterfinal mistake that could haunt a goalkeeper for years. The 24-year-old Belgian, who spent most of the tournament on the bench watching Thibaut Courtois, finally got his shot when Courtois went down with an injury. It didn’t go how anyone hoped.
Lammens misplayed a late ball against Spain, allowing Mikel Merino to poke home a winner that sent Belgium home. The internet did what the internet does. And United’s front office is already moving to make sure the young keeper doesn’t spiral.
According to reports, the club plans to wrap Lammens in full support when he reports for preseason in three weeks. That means more than just a chat with the goalkeeping coach. The senior leadership group — Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and veteran backup Tom Heaton — have been asked to reach out personally. Fernandes knows the drill. He copped so much abuse after Portugal exited that he shut off comments on his social media. If anyone understands how fast fandom turns nasty, it’s him.
United’s history with World Cup fallout
This isn’t new territory for the club. David Beckham got sent off against Argentina in 1998 and came home to find his effigy burning in pubs across England. United didn’t flinch. They backed him completely. Beckham responded by helping the team win the treble that season.
Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo had their infamous dust-up at the 2006 World Cup, with Rooney seeing red against Portugal. Sir Alex Ferguson made sure the locker room didn’t fracture. United won the Premier League that year anyway.
The pattern is there. United tends to protect its own when the outside world turns hostile.
What happens now for Lammens
Lammens had a strong debut season at Old Trafford. He earned the No. 1 spot. One mistake — even a big one at a World Cup — doesn’t erase that. But the schedule this season is heavier. United will be in the Champions League, the league race looks tight, and the margin for error gets thinner every year.
Michael Carrick will be watching closely. The manager knows how World Cup baggage can drag into a club season if it’s not handled right. He’s said before that he wants the squad to develop a siege mentality. Lammens might be the test case for whether that actually works.
The kid has three weeks to reset. Then he reports back to Carrington and finds out whether the support network actually holds up when the cameras aren’t rolling.
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