Manchester United were haunted by Anthony Elanga on Tuesday night as the Nottingham Forest winger handed Ruben Amorim a 1-0 defeat.
Manchester United were finally back in Premier League action on Tuesday night, more than two weeks since beating Leicester City 3-0.
Ruben Amorim would have hoped for some momentum to still be intact despite that break, but United slumped to defeat at Nottingham Forest.
It was almost written in the script that Anthony Elanga would score, but few could have expected that he would score the winner after just five minutes.
Elanga’s brilliant driving run and finish served as a reminder of his quality to United, having left Old Trafford for Forest in 2023.
United took plenty of shots, 23 to be exact, but couldn’t break Forest down in a frustrating away defeat for Amorim.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim on Anthony Elanga
United sold Elanga to Forest in 2023, agreeing a £15million deal for the Swedish winger.
Erik ten Hag just never really seemed entirely convinced by Elanga and decided to cash in, despite his desire to play great transition football.
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Elanga is now shining in a counter-attacking team at Forest, producing real quality for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Elanga still has one eye on United but showed no mercy on Tuesday night as his electric pace and pinpoint finish won the game.
The conversation will, naturally, turn to whether United made the wrong decision by selling Elanga, but Amorim has tried to shun those questions.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS after Tuesday’s defeat, Amorim was clear in his suggestion that Elanga and other former United players had their chance at Old Trafford.
Amorim just wants to focus on the players at his disposal rather than the players sold before he even arrived at Old Trafford, but he suggested that the onus was on Elanga and others to perform for United rather than moving on.
“They have to perform in Manchester United,” said Amorim.
“We cannot look at all the players that go away. They had their chance in Manchester United, so you are asking a lot about other players that had played for Manchester United.
“We have to look at the performance of the players in Manchester United, not outside of Manchester United. I’m focused on my team and improving my team,” he added.
Nuno Espirito Santo on Anthony Elanga
Elanga certainly had potential, and his goal away at Atletico Madrid in 2022 will live long in the memory.
United decided to cash in on Elang,a and the man himself may well have been keen to leave in order to play regular first-team football.
That decision is paying dividends now, with Elanga producing outstanding displays in a push for Champions League qualification.
Forest boss Nuno has moved to praise Elanga, branding him a ‘special player’, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“He did it by himself. There is no better counter-attack. He is a special player,” said Nuno.
United fans may still have a sot spot for Elanga and will wish him all the best at the City Ground, but Tuesday’s goal will certainly sting – especially as Elanga provided the cutting edge United so desperately lacked.