Senne Lammens vs David de Gea: Eric Steele expertly identifies biggest difference between two at Man Utd

Goalkeeping coach Eric Steele has now spotted a major difference between Senne Lammens and Manchester United legend David de Gea early in their respective Old Trafford spells.

Eric Steele was a key figure in the Manchester United coaching staff at the Premier League club in the tail end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial spell at Old Trafford.

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The 71-year-old veteran coach worked closely with David de Gea after the Red Devils agreed to sign the United legend for a fee worth around £18.9m in 2011.

De Gea was only 20 years old at the time he left La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid and linked up with the Red Devils squad under former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Steele became a pivotal figure in the development of De Gea and his adaptation to English football after the struggles that the Spanish shot-stopper initially faced in his spell.

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Eric Steele now singles out something that Senne Lammens is doing really well at Man Utd

Senne Lammens was the fifth and final summer signing that Ineos made after Manchester United landed the Belgian shot-stopper for an initial fee of £18.1m.

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Man Utd’s deal for Lammens, which was officially announced on deadline day last September, included add-ons after Royal Antwerp agreed to sell the player.

Lammens has impressed between the sticks this season and the 23-year-old Belgium international has firmly established himself as United No 1 in his debut campaign.

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Andre Onana was offloaded to Super Lig side Trabzonspor on a loan deal in 2025 and Altay Bayindir is playing a distant second fiddle to Man Utd star Lammens.

Eric Steele has praised Lammens’ mentality for wanting to improve himself and putting in the extra training amid adapting to the demands of English football.

Speaking on The Athletic’s Talk of the Devils podcast, he said: “But the plus factor on what you’ve just said is exactly right: he’s spending Monday to Friday on the training ground.

“He’s actually getting [the] work that he needs. So, he’ll be getting good repetition. The secret about coaching is that you do repetitive things, but in a different way.

“And that’s what he’ll be getting now. So, he’ll be getting his distance.”

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Eric Steele on the immediate difference between David de Gea and Senne Lammens at Man Utd

Lammens had spent his career in Belgium ahead of his move to Man Utd and Steele noted that as a key difference compared with Fiorentina star David de Gea.

Steele explained that De Gea benefited from playing European football at Atletico Madrid, including lifting the Europa League trophy with the Spanish club.

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“You learn now there’s more than he might play in the Belgian League and probably name two players that can hit a ball from distance,” he continued.

“You play again in the Premier League. You’ve got somebody nearly in every team.”

Steele added: “Exactly. So that again is you know now inverted wingers, you know, and so no disrespect to the Belgian League, he’s had to step up now.

“He hasn’t had the game time that David had. He’s had [experience], but what he’s got now, he’s got the training time.”

Lammens has made 21 appearances across all competitions for Man Utd in his debut season and the former Royal Antwerp ace has kept four clean sheets so far.

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