Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t often give public opinions on Manchester United these days, so when he does, people listen.
And during a visit to the Bahrain International Trophy horse racing event, the legendary former manager spoke with surprising enthusiasm about what he’s seeing from the current squad — especially summer arrival Senne Lammens.
Ferguson, who built United’s dynasty over 26 unforgettable years, said the Belgian goalkeeper has made a “fantastic” start at Old Trafford.
Hearing him praise a new signing so openly is enough to perk up even the most frustrated United supporter.
A Brighter Patch After a Turbulent Season
United’s season under Ruben Amorim has taken a noticeable upward turn.
After the chaos and inconsistency of last year, the team has now pieced together a five-match unbeaten run, capped off by a dramatic 2–2 draw with Tottenham just before the international break.
They’re still only seventh in the Premier League — a packed mid-table means half the league seems to be separated by a whisker — but they sit just two points behind third-placed Chelsea, keeping the door wide open for a top-four push.
Lammens Quickly Becomes a Standout Name
Ferguson was particularly keen to highlight the influence of Lammens, who arrived from Royal Antwerp in a £21.7 million signing over the summer.
Despite being only 23 and still settling into English football, he’s already made a strong impression.
“He’s only played three or four games and he’s been outstanding,” Ferguson told Racing RTV, sounding every bit like the manager who once had a knack for spotting keepers long before anyone else did.
He also mentioned new arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who have added energy and creativity after joining from Brentford and Wolves respectively.
Ferguson’s Message: Patience, Consistency, and Confidence
The former United boss admitted he likes what he’s seeing but stressed what he has always believed: consistency wins leagues.
“I hope the manager gets a bit of success,” he said. “At United, you need to have success.
Back-to-back wins should be the expectation.”
He also noted that the club has been in a rebuilding phase and that improvement was never going to happen overnight.
But he sees the signs beginning to swing in the right direction again.
A Strong Start for United’s New No. 1
Lammens’ short United career has been near-faultless so far.
He’s played five matches, hasn’t lost a single one, and has already produced several moments that made supporters sit up straighter.
His debut came with a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Sunderland, and he followed it with a tight, impressive 2–1 win against Liverpool, plus a lively 4–2 victory over Brighton.
Even in United’s two recent draws — both ending 2–2 against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham — he earned praise for key saves and steady decision-making.
The Scout Who Wouldn’t Stop Pushing
One of the more interesting backstories behind Lammens’ move involves a familiar name from United’s past: Tony Coton, who worked on Ferguson’s coaching staff for ten years.
Now employed by the club as a goalkeeping scout, Coton was reportedly the loudest voice encouraging United to snap up Lammens before anyone else did.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, admitted just weeks ago that Coton was “relentless” in pushing the club to move.
“Tony put him on my radar a year ago,” Wilcox said. “We knew we wanted a keeper with big potential, and Senne was available.
It wasn’t a rash decision — we’d been tracking him for a long time.”
Wilcox also praised Lammens’ professionalism, saying the youngster is grounded, reflective, and determined to keep improving.
What Comes Next?
If United can build on this unbeaten stretch, especially with Lammens settling so quickly, fans may finally feel like the team is stabilising after years of uncertainty.