“We Were Not…” — Senne Lammens Reveals What Manchester United Were Missing in Frustrating West Ham Draw

Manchester United may have left the London Stadium with a point, but the mood inside the dressing room told a very different story. A dramatic late equaliser rescued the scoreline, yet the performance itself left plenty to be desired, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens did not shy away from saying exactly what went wrong.

For many supporters, the problem felt familiar. United dominated possession for long spells but struggled to turn that control into real danger. It was a theme fans recognised from previous regimes under Rúben Amorim and Erik ten Hag, and Lammens’ honest assessment after the match only reinforced those concerns.

The late goal that saved United

United were staring at defeat on Tuesday night after falling behind to a well-worked West Ham goal. Despite having more of the ball, Michael Carrick’s side found it difficult to break down a disciplined and compact home defence. The breakthrough finally came in stoppage time, when Benjamin Šeško showed his quality with a clever finish to earn a 1-1 draw.

On paper, the result keeps United moving forward. They remain well placed in the league and are still unbeaten under Carrick. But football is rarely just about the numbers, and the overall feeling among players and fans alike was one of frustration rather than relief.

Lammens, who had a solid evening between the posts, admitted that the performance never really reached the level United expect of themselves.

Disappointment despite the late goal

“Still a bit disappointed and felt like we didn’t really play the way we should have, especially in the first half,” Lammens told Manchester Evening News. “We didn’t create as much. I think we needed to be more sharp with the ball.”

Those words cut straight to the heart of United’s problem. Too often, the team moved the ball safely rather than quickly. Passes were neat but predictable, allowing West Ham to sit deep, stay organised, and wait for mistakes.

Lammens acknowledged that the late equaliser softened the blow, but it did not erase the underlying issues. “Of course, when you score in the end and still get a point, it’s always a bit better,” he said. “But still, the overall feeling is a bit disappointing for us.”

A familiar struggle against low blocks

West Ham executed a game plan United have struggled against for years. They defended deep, closed the spaces between the lines, and forced United to play in front of them. It was effective, and Lammens admitted that his side did not respond well enough.

“They know what they have to do, how they defend us,” he explained. “A low block is always difficult to play against. And then, like I said, we have to be at our best and sharp to be able to create chances against them. We weren’t that sharp today, like we’ve been the last couple of weeks.”

The statistics support his view. United’s expected goals figure was modest, especially considering how much possession they enjoyed. There were very few clear-cut chances, and too many attacks broke down due to slow decision-making or a lack of movement in the final third.

Was fatigue a factor?

With United playing two matches in just four days, questions were raised about whether tired legs played a role in the flat display. Lammens did not completely dismiss the idea, but he was clear that it cannot become an excuse.

“It could be a bit of both,” he said. “I think they’re always a hard side to play against, especially in here. We have difficulties at home as well against them, so it’s always difficult coming here.”

He pointed out that fixture congestion is something top teams must learn to handle. “Because the last game was three days ago, you can’t put excuses on it. Because they also had a game two or three days ago.”

That mentality reflects the standards United are trying to set under Carrick. If the club wants to compete regularly in the Champions League and challenge at the top end of the Premier League, managing physical and mental fatigue is non-negotiable.

Preparing for a tougher future

Looking ahead, Lammens stressed that this match should serve as a warning. United are set to play far more games next season if they progress deep into domestic and European competitions. That means facing many more opponents who will defend like West Ham did.

“But if we want to be a team playing for the top, then we can’t use that as an excuse,” he said. “So we need to learn from this, because we’ll play against a team like West Ham did today. For more games in the future, so we need to be able to play against them and create chances.”

It is a clear message, both to teammates and to the coaching staff. Possession alone is not enough. United need more intensity, quicker passing, smarter movement, and a sharper edge in front of goal.

Carrick has already spoken about finding the right balance between control and risk. Matches like this underline how important that balance will be. Without it, United risk repeating the same patterns that have held them back in recent seasons.

In the end, Šeško’s late goal ensured United avoided defeat, but it also masked problems that cannot be ignored. Lammens’ honesty highlights a growing awareness inside the squad that improvement is still needed.