Nottingham Forest won for the third time in succession in the Premier League last night as Anthony Elanga scored the game’s only goal against Manchester United.
The performance was typical of Forest under Nuno Espirito Santo during 2024/25.
Forest scored early, got the crowd on their side and then proceeded to batten down the hatches and frustrate the living daylights out of United.
Elanga was praised by Rio Ferdinand for his efforts and his goal offered a reminder to United over exactly what they allowed to leave for just £15 million.
His form since leaving United for Forest has coincided with a serious drop off from the Red Devils and they could now be left wondering what might have been.
Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim takes subtle dig at Anthony Elanga
The Portuguese boss might not have meant any harm by his comments but after last night, he was quizzed on the match-winner, Elanga.
Elanga left United in the quest for regular first-team football and he’s now proving what a good player he is at Forest.
Amorim has suggested that some players can’t handle the pressure of playing for a club like Manchester United, hinting that was the issue for Elanga.
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He said in his press conference: “We are talking about a lot of players that come from Manchester United and are doing right, but they had the chance here.
“In Manchester United, you don’t have the time. I am saying all the time that I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast. But you are not talking about players who didn’t play for Manchester United. They were here playing for Manchester United.
“In here, the pressure is too big sometimes and sometimes you don’t have time, you should have time for these kids to develop but for that, you need a strong base to support all these kids.
“If you don’t have that strong base, we are not going to help our kids. So, they had their chances and sometimes football is like that and the pressure of playing for Manchester United is really big.”
Anthony Elanga stats at Manchester United
It’s crazy to think United offloaded Elanga without really taking a proper look at him or giving him a regular run of games.
Elanga was always a bit-part performer at Old Trafford so for Amorim to suggest he couldn’t handle the pressure if a little bit wide of the mark.
Ultimately, United preferred expensive flops over Elanga and how they could do with a player in the form that the 22-year-old is right now.
Anthony Elanga stats at Manchester United Total
Appearances 55
Goals 4
Assists 4
The Red Devils have offered every club a benchmark of how not to recruit players in recent years and in allowing Elanga to leave, the club really dropped the ball.
United’s loss is Forest’s game with Elanga, however, and there is even more to come from the Sweden star in the years to come.