Senne Lammens recovers in Los Angeles, New York and Switzerland

Senne Lammens (24) has quickly recovered from the crucial mistake in the World Cup quarter‑final against Spain, thanks to a family trip to Switzerland, support at Manchester United and a short stop in Los Angeles and New York. He then returned straight to the training base to prepare for the new season.

Family and travel as a reset

The evening after the defeat, Lammens found comfort in the catacombs of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where he could process the disappointment with his parents, brother and girlfriend Vanessa. A few days later he traveled with the same family to New York and then to Switzerland, where they walked along Lake Lucerne and played golf. The nature and the distraction gave him the space to leave the ‘sh*t feeling’ of the match behind.

Analysis of the mistake

In the quarter‑final Lammens had managed to stop the ball from Pau Cubarsí, but Mikel Merino scored the decisive 2‑1. Goalkeeper coach Guy Martens later analysed the situation and concluded that it was not the deflection of the shot itself, but the hand position during Merino’s intervention that caused the error. It became a learning moment for the young goalkeeper.

Support from club and teammates

Manchester United showed immediate support via an Instagram post: ‘Keep your head up, Senne. We’re all with you’. Team‑mate Harry Maguire embraced Lammens on his first day back, while former manager Paul Scholes noted that Lammens is ‘not world‑class’, but that his season start at the club is “just fine”. Carl Hoefkens later confirmed in a podcast that he compares Lammens’ keeping at Man United with his earlier performances in every age group.

Comments from colleagues

Thibaut Courtois said: ‘I know this is a sh*t feeling for him, but Senne is an excellent goalkeeper and he has personality. He will come out of this stronger.’ Axel Brisart from Football added: ‘He didn’t sit in a corner to mourn.’ The Belgian football association emphasized that Lammens remains realistic and stays level‑headed both in euphoria and in difficult periods.

Early return to training

Lammens arrived on 30 July at Man United and was expected on the training pitches on Monday 3 August. However, he chose to join four days earlier, eager to work again, only twenty days after the quarter‑final. This early return underlines his mental resilience.

Outlook

With the support of family, club and colleagues, Lammens is ready to cement his place at Manchester United and leave the memory of the mistake against Spain behind. He believes that the opportunities he receives will enable him to restore the confidence of the fans and the national team.