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  1. Article Text (about Senne Lammens):

    # Senne Lammens (Manchester United)

    Aggressive, brave and consistent in his approach, Lammens’ mentality rarely shifts. Whether he is under pressure in open play or defending a corner, he remains proactive and decisive, even when his six-yard box is congested.

    Overall, he is relatively balanced between catching (24) and punching (13), and he has become particularly effective at claiming high balls on corners when he has a clear path to the ball or with his fists when in traffic — as we saw recently against Arsenal and Everton. Similar to Jose Sa at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his clearances do not always travel long distances, but he reliably attacks the initial duel and removes immediate danger.

    At 6ft 4in, he has the physical tools for aerial dominance — wingspan, elevation and explosive power — but what stands out is his starting position. He operates on the front foot, not retreating towards his line, constantly adjusting to find the space between defenders and attackers to launch his movement. That positioning extends his range and allows him to anticipate deliveries early.

    Importantly, his stance sets the tone in the box — defenders understand that balls into the six-yard area belong to their goalkeeper. That clarity builds trust. When a back line trusts its goalkeeper in the air, it defends assertively rather than reactively.

    What has been crucial this season is that he does not allow a previous moment to influence the next one. We saw that weeks ago at Arsenal when, after being screened on the equalising 2-2 goal, he left his line again minutes later in stoppage time to punch clear under immense pressure and secure what would go on to be a noteworthy 3-2 win.

    Though he hasn’t been perfect, the psychological advantage and boost he has given his team is immense, and it should hardly be surprising that United’s form has improved since the Belgian has established himself in the starting XI.