SENNE LAMMENS has been told to make himself the boss of the box if he wants to beat Manchester United’s goalkeeper curse.
Alex Stepney, the first Red Devils No 1 to lift the European Cup in 1968, reckons too many stoppers are scaredy cats these days.
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Belgian Lammens, 23, cost £18.2million from Royal Antwerp and — just like Manchester City’s own deadline-day keeper signing Gianluigi Donnarumma — could make his debut in Sunday’s derby.
Stepney, told SunSport: “Senne, like all youngsters in his position, needs to show he has the courage to be his own man.
“So many these days don’t grasp that the 18-yard box — and especially the area from the six-yard line to the penalty spot, is theirs to command, no messing.
“It is their territory and they have to command it and show they have courage but also authority to do so. If they do that they will get the instant respect of team-mates and opponents.
“Some might say throwing Senne into the derby after growing up in Belgian football is too much pressure too soon.
“But it could be the perfect opportunity to show right away that he has what it takes to handle the huge responsibility of playing in net for Manchester United.”
Stepney, who also worked as City’s keeper coach for six years in the 90s, made his United debut against City 59 years ago.
He feels Lammens could solve Ruben Amorim’s problems between the sticks.
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Stepney, 82, said: “I well remember that debut of mine after being signed from Chelsea for £55,000 — a world record for a keeper back in 1966. City were really good and had top players like Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee.
“Not long into the game at Old Trafford I claimed my first cross, Summerbee delivered it, climbing up through a ruck of players and right away they all saw that I had command of my box.
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“That gave me confidence, my team-mates confidence and while — like all of us in the goalkeepers’ union — I would have my dodgy moments, it showed I was up for it and we won 1-0.
“Senne has to show that same desire — like Donnarumma will have to do at City — and prove he has the inner strength that all top keepers have.
“You not only have to show you have character, you have to be a character, your own man, not some over-coached robot afraid to show his personality.”
Lammens would do well to follow in the footsteps of another keeper who was unheralded on his United arrival — but left a club legend.
Stepney added: “Look at Peter Schemichel when he arrived from Brondby back in 1991 — more experienced than Lammens but still a relative unknown in England. He really did boss his box. And he was a true character.
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“Remember his famous ‘star saves’? Peter was a giant and he wasn’t afraid to express himself — which is a problem for so many of this generation.
“Some see themselves simply as line keepers, some seem obsessed with footwork and distribution and yes, I know the game has changed so much since my day.
“But what a top goalkeeper does first is show everybody around him the box is his to command. If Senne, or Donnarumma, does that then he can be a success.”
Lammens is arriving in the United goal on the backdrop of regular blunders from Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
But Stepney added: “Keeper problems at United are nothing new. After Schmeichel left in 1999 they signed six to try to replace him before Edwin van der Sar six years later.
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“David de Gea took over in 2011 and remember, he was young too but after a difficult start showed that singular quality the top boys have.
“Playing for United is a tough, demanding job and one only a few are really cut out for. The best way for Senne to prove it is to want the ball, not to shy away from responsibility — when it comes to the box, he’s the boss.”
