ไทย
English
中國人
Senne Lammens has acknowledged that Manchester United supporters cannot witness the determination behind closed doors from players to "improve," stressing that the dressing room remains fully behind Michael Carrick.
Lisandro Martínez publicly criticized sporting director Jason Wilcox over what he described as insufficient backing from the hierarchy, before walking back his comments several days later. Bruno Fernandes then openly challenged the tactical decisions following the embarrassing defeat to Como.
United now head into Sunday's encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford hoping to break a streak of winless games that is currently seven long. Carrick delivered an unusual press conference on Friday, speaking for nearly six minutes before fielding the first question. The manager earned considerable praise for his candid, heartfelt assessment of the club's situation and the steps required to turn things around.
Lammens acknowledged it is "easy" for players to vent frustration following a poor result. "We all genuinely want to improve and we all want to win, and sometimes we might say things we don't fully mean or properly explain," he told Sky Sports.
That post-match emotion hasn't always translated into visible effort on the pitch. "People watching at home can't see that, so we need to show it during games, but I can assure you we're giving everything we have and we're all standing together behind the manager, as a staff, players, and front office.
"Everyone is aware they need to do better, but I believe we are united in our efforts to improve as a team."
Man Utd's Change in Style of Play
During Carrick's interim spell in charge, United topped the Premier League standings. The side accumulated more points across those 17 matches than any other club, including eventual champions Arsenal. The squad remains largely unchanged, which makes the current run of poor form all the more baffling.
Lammens suggested that United actually performed worse at times last season despite achieving better results.
"Last season I felt like maybe we played sometimes better this season, but last season everything just clicked and went the right way for us," he said.
While added intensity always helps, a key factor appears to be a tactical shift away from counter-attacking football toward a more possession-based, build-up style of play.
Despite acknowledging difficulties when pressed, the Belgian noted: "We didn't concede that many goals, and as more of a counter-attacking side last season we performed really well. [But] everyone knew we had to evolve, that opponents would adjust how they approached games against us.
"That's why we needed to develop this season, and in preseason we worked on different things to put ourselves in the best position to win matches." Nevertheless, Lammens still believes "fighting as a team and defending as a team" is something the squad must "get back to."
Why Man Utd Lack 'Fight' This Season
Could it be as straightforward as having more possession meaning less need to battle to win the ball back? United were accustomed to operating without the ball for long stretches last season.
"In possession we're trying to do things differently and improve, because last season we weren't always at our best with the ball," Lammens added. "I think we have made strides in those areas, but perhaps the mindset of holding the ball and building play has affected the mentality of pressing and fighting to win it back the way we did last season."
Finding the right balance is clearly essential. "We need a bit of both. It's a fine line, honestly — that aggression when you're out of possession, and when you have the ball, you want that composure, that ability to play from the back and break through the press.
"I think it's just about finding that balance within ourselves."