Senne Lammens admits Manchester United need to strengthen their squad this summer to cope with the demands of Premier League and Champions League football next season
United were stretched in Saturday’s goalless draw at Sunderland where Casemiro, Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte missed the game through injury.
The club are coming to the end of their shortest season in more than a century, playing just 40 games after dropping out of Europe and exiting both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle.
But United have qualified for next season’s Champions League, and Lammens accepts that they will need a deeper squad to be able to compete.
‘Yes, of course, it’s a very hard league and next year will be a hard programme,’ said the United goalkeeper. ‘So you want to get as many, or you want to have people in there who can come in when it’s needed.
Senne Lammens has called on Man United to invest in the squad this summer window
United have qualified for the Champions League but their squad depth is shallow
‘I think personally we have a lot of quality already in the squad this year. But, of course, next season is going to be a lot, and you also want to include injuries and stuff that can happen just like today.
‘A couple of guys injured, a couple of guys who normally always play. So those guys who are coming in and helping us out as well are very important.
‘We want to make a good and strong squad for next season. But also this season I think we have been able to do that as well.’
Lammens dismissed the suggestion that United’s levels dipped at the Stadium of Light after reaching the Champions League with victory over Liverpool last weekend, and revealed that head coach Michael Carrick had warned the players about finishing the season strongly.
‘I don’t really think so, personally. For me especially not,’ added the Belgian. ‘The manager warned us and he made the point that these last couple of games are very important for us because we want to finish as high as possible and with as many points as possible.
‘We also know how you end the season is also the feeling you get for the new season. So we want to build on that and keep the momentum going.
‘To be honest, if we had Sunderland away a couple of weeks ago and we didn’t have the Champions League secure yet, it probably would have been a tough game even then. So I don’t think that’s an excuse or something that was playing in our minds.’
Earlier, Carrick had given a similar response to a question that implied United’s players may already be thinking about their summer holidays.
United will be competing on multiple fronts next season and so squad depth will be key
‘I almost get offended when people are accusing that because the way the players have prepared for the game, the way they left the changing room and faced a tough game, it’s fine,’ he said.
‘I think if we weren’t in a good headspace and motivated, I think we lose the game today. Sunderland played really well at certain points of the game and made us work for it.
‘The fact that our pride in ourselves and each other and the responsibility of playing for this great club and being part of it, is certainly motivation and focus.
‘It’s not the reason whether we’re going to be brilliant or maybe we’re going to have a performance where it comes a little bit more challenging.’
