Manchester United were defeated at Nottingham Forest by a goal from former Red Devils prospect Anthony Elanga.
Anthony Elanga was the 238th Manchester United academy graduate to make the first team. He made a total of 55 appearances before he was sold by Erik ten Hag in 2023.
Elanga might have been useful for Erik ten Hag’s transition based game, but he played only 751 minutes under the Dutchman before being sold.
This sale came back to haunt United with Elanga netting the winning goal for Forest in a 1-0 victory for the hosts, with a tremendous counter-attack.
And while Erik ten Hag did not believe in Elanga, there was another manager who did.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Ralf Rangnick on Anthony Elanga
Anthony Elanga played 1,439 minutes under Ralf Rangnick, playing 26 games under him in total, scoring three goals.
While Elanga’s low strike rate may have caused concern, there was clearly talent there, and the Sweden international bore some pressure of playing in a wretched side, with United falling apart during the latter part of the 2021/22 season.
Rangnick had great belief in him, speaking highly of Elanga following his greatest moment, scoring an equalising goal away at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
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He raved about his combination of talent and attitude, urging others to follow, “He is playing as though it is a dream come true, it is a joy and fun to watch him play, I wish a few other players would take him as an example and as a role model.
“He’s just enjoying himself on the pitch and he’s fully aware of his strengths, his assets, his weapons. He’s always trying to play and show those weapons.”
Rangnick’s comments at the time were viewed as a little dig towards Marcus Rashford, who lost his way under him, before hitting form under Erik ten Hag, and then taking another major step backwards.
And even this past December in a bombshell interview, Rashford admitted he had lost his desire to fight at United and was seeking a move away from the club.
Elanga continues to go from strength to strength – at Nottingham Forest, at Manchester United’s expense.
Elanga’s mentality was the key for Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick praised the consistency he saw from Anthony Elanga, and his headstrong nature that always gave him a baseline of expectation.
He told club media: “He has always been a player who gave his very best, where I could always be assured what kind of level, physical level and mentality level, he will invest.”
These words ring true still, with the 22-year-old thriving with six goals and eight assists for Nottingham Forest this season, who are flying up the pitch.
During his time for United’s academy, Elanga scored a wondrous solo goal in the EFL Trophy against Accrington, running near the length of the pitch, before finding the net.
His goal against United for Forest was reminiscent, and a reminder that the talent has always been there, he just needed a manager who believed in him.