Elanga’s winner against his former side continued Forest's Champions League charge
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester United (Elanga 5′)
CITY GROUND — Anthony Elanga was replaced by another Antony at Old Trafford two years ago. The success of the switch perfectly sums up the mess Manchester United have become.
As is often the case with the current United side with an immovable penchant for self-destructing, they allowed a player who had come through the youth ranks to break into the first team under Ralf Rangnick to come back to haunt them, in a way only they can at a euphoric City Ground.
Elanga’s winner just five minutes into a contest the hosts were never going to relinquish put Forest within touching distance of Europe’s top table for the first time in 45 years. United’s season all hinges on what they do on the continent in the next few months.
Ruben Amorim will be counting his lucky stars that he still has that get of jail free card, given his beleaguered team’s league form is showing no sign of getting any better for any sustained period.
Much was expected of a rejuvenated United side, despite Forest coming into the contest unbeaten in eight at home in the league.
The international break and an early FA Cup exit gave Amorim that rarest of commodities in the modern era – substantial time on the training pitch.
Amorim has bemoaned that since he succeeded Erik ten Hag in November the schedule has been unforgiving, and thus he has not been able to instil his ethos on his misguided troops.
Any essence of a game plan was thrown out of the window early on as they inexplicably allowed Elanga to run 85 metres of the pitch, mostly unchallenged, before the flying forward drilled home a fine opener into the bottom corner.
ANTHONY ELANGA, THAT IS INCREDIBLE! ⚡
The winger scores a blistering solo goal against his former side 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9J38PnbMsV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2025
There were 16 seconds between Bruno Fernandes taking a corner and Elanga arrowing home as United conceded the first goal for the 23rd time in all competitions this term – only Leicester City have done so more often among Premier League clubs.
The home support were of course revelling in yet another moment of pure unadulterated joy on the banks of the Trent, taunting United’s travelling support with a booming “he left because you’re s***”.
In fairness, United did respond well, playing some of the more slick football we have seen from them in a long while. The final pass, however, remained conspicuous by its absence, Diogo Dalot’s header off the crossbar as close as the visitors came to a first-half equaliser.
Rasmus Hojlund, fresh from breaking his 22-hour goal drought against Leicester last time out, was summoned for a second-half reshuffle, with Fernandes dropping into this deeper role he has been devastating in of late.
Other than a few half-chances for the Dane, a fizzing strike just wide from the lesser-spotted Mason Mount and a late Harry Maguire effort that was cleared off the line, United never looked like restoring parity.
It was as comfortable an evening as a Forest team who had been taken to extra time at the weekend could have hoped for.
“You’re not famous anymore” came from all corners of the ground upon the final whistle. This excuse for a United side could not be any further from their former grandeur than they are now. The Europa League is their only hope of salvaging anything from what continues to be a miserable campaign.