The difference between Lammens and De Gea

Lammens had a good start with MU. Photo: Reuters .

Eric Steele is no stranger to Premier League fans over the past two decades. He was Sir Alex Ferguson's trusted right-hand man in shaping the young David de Gea from 2011 onwards.

At the time, De Gea was only 20 years old, leaving Atletico Madrid for a fee of around £18.9 million. He had plenty of talent, but the English environment was a real shock for the Spanish goalkeeper.

Steele vividly remembers the missed aerial duels and long-range shots that left De Gea flustered. But he also knew that the Spanish goalkeeper had a foundation from La Liga and top-level European competitions, including winning the Europa League with Atletico. De Gea arrived at MU with the baggage of top-level experience gained from big matches.

But Senne Lammens is different. The Belgian goalkeeper joined MU last summer for an initial fee of £18.1 million from Royal Antwerp. Steele pointed out the clear difference: "Lammens grew up in the Belgian league, where the intensity and quality of finishing are incomparable to English football."

But what impressed Steele was Lammens' attitude. He spent the entire week on the training pitch, accumulating experience through each practice session and repeated practice.

According to Steele, that's the most important foundation for a young goalkeeper. Training isn't just about repetition, but about repetition in different ways. And Lammens is gradually absorbing that.

De Gea arrived at MU with a wealth of experience playing at the highest level. Photo: Reuters .

This season, MU are not participating in European competitions, meaning fewer midweek matches. For Lammens, this paradox is an advantage. He has more time to adapt to the pace, to wingers who play with their weaker foot, and to the frequent long-range shots in the Premier League.

Statistics don't lie. Lammens played 21 games in all competitions and kept 4 clean sheets in his first season. The numbers aren't perfect, but they're enough to confirm he's already secured the top spot.

De Gea needed time to mature amidst the storms of life. Lammens is the same. The difference is that he's being prepared in a different way. And at MU, that could be the start of a new chapter in goal.

Highlights Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham: On the evening of February 7th, MU brilliantly defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the 25th round of the Premier League.