Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has defended Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens after the 24-year-old made a costly error in Belgium's World Cup quarter-final loss to Spain. The match, which appeared destined for extra time after Charles De Ketelaere cancelled out Fabian Ruiz's opener, turned when Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsi's 25-yard strike, allowing Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino to score a late winner.
Lammens, who replaced injured Thibaut Courtois during the match, faced significant criticism following Belgium's exit. However, Hazard, one of Belgium's greatest ever players, has backed the 'great goalkeeper' to 'bounce back and come back even stronger.'
Hazard's Full Support for Lammens
'Senne is a great goalkeeper, he really is,' Hazard told Stake. 'He's already proved that at club level and I'm sure he'll prove it with the Red Devils soon enough. People shouldn't be too hard on him. He had to come on in a quarter-final and replace Thibaut Courtois… the best goalkeeper in the world. That's tough on anyone, but I'm sure he'll bounce back and come out even stronger.'
Discussing Belgium's overall World Cup campaign, Hazard added: 'I often saw that people didn't really believe in us, but I think we showed that you shouldn't underestimate Belgium. They gave us some really great moments. I was proud to see the fans across the whole country backing the team.'
Courtois Also Consoles Lammens
Real Madrid's Courtois also did his best to console Lammens following the error. 'It is a shame that Senne just couldn't catch that ball, but that's football,' Courtois said. 'Mike [Penders], Guy [Martens] and I went to give him a hug. You can't say much at that moment. It's just a sham, but Senne is an excellent goalkeeper. He has a bright future ahead of him, and moments like that make you stronger. It shouldn't be blamed on him. It's part of football.'
Lammens' Impressive First Season at Manchester United
Lammens enjoyed an impressive first season at Manchester United following last summer's £18m move from Royal Antwerp, helping the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League. The 24-year-old even received special praise from Old Trafford legend Sir Alex Ferguson, who described Lammens' start at United as 'outstanding.'
Manchester United face Championship side Wrexham in their first pre-season friendly on Saturday ahead of their Premier League opener against Hull on August 22.
