Anthony Elanga admitted Nottingham Forest’s victory over Manchester United ‘was
personal’ for him as he continued to show what his old club has been missing.
And, for
the Red Devils, their former youngster’s continued success is not only a kick in the
teeth, but it also leaves egg on the faces of their transfer team whose big-money deals
have not worked out as planned.
4 Elanga has already proven that Man United were silly
to let him go Credit: Getty
Elanga was one of a host of players shipped out by Man
United in the summer as Erik ten Hag revamped his team.
The 21-year-old Swedish winger
was previously regarded as one of the club’s most promising young talents, but found
himself on the fringes under the Dutch boss who brought in Antony from Ajax in his
place in August 2024.
But that decision appears to have backfired, with Elanga thriving
since his £15million switch to the City Ground, while Antony has struggled to prove
good value for the £86m United spent to sign him.
But it’s not just the Brazilian ace
who Elanga has outshone this season.
The Forest star set up Morgan Gibbs-White for the
winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory, which put him into double figures in total goal
contributions this season with four goals and six assists.
That’s more than United’s
entire attacking strike force combined this term, with Marcus Rashford, Anthony
Martial, Rasmus Hojlund, Anthony and Jadon Sancho - currently exiled by Ten Hag -
managing just nine direct goal contributions between them.
In fact, Elanga's record
puts him alongside Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the top-five most prolific
players aged 21 or younger in Europe's big five leagues so far this season.
It’s clear
Elanga is relishing the chance to prove his old club wrong. You’d be stretched to find
a better motivator in the world of football than trying to beat your former club,
especially if you felt undervalued and unappreciated.
4 Elanga vs Antony in the Premier
League this season - one cost £86m, the other cost £15m
4 Elanga is outshining his
ex-Man United teammates
4 Elanga's record this season stands up with the very best in
Europe
The 21-year-old even pointed to the Tricky Trees’ badge when he was substituted
late in the game, and looked visibly emotional after the full-time whistle as he hugged
new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
For good reason - not only was it his first win over
his former club, it was Nottingham Forest’s first victory over Manchester United in 29
years.
Simon Jordan slams Erik ten Hag's comments about Manchester United's transfers
and calls Antony £90m worth of crap
And it appears he enjoyed it, very much.
He told
NBC Sports after the game: “Last season wasn’t easy for me because I’d play for five or
ten minutes and then I wouldn't play for ten games, I’d be in and out a lot.
“So this
game was kinda personal for me because I wanted to prove that I'm capable of playing at
a high level.
“I’m just grateful to Nottingham Forest for bringing me in, especially
Steve Cooper who has obviously left and now Nuno and his staff have come in and done a
tremendous job so far.
“Before the game I tried to put my emotions aside and just stay
as professional as I could… and the assist to Morgan was special to me because that
puts me now on double figures.
“To think that last year I didn’t score, and now I'm on
four goals and six assists, I just want to keep pushing and keep working hard.”
Man
United will now fear the harder he works and the more he succeeds, the more silly
they’ll look for getting rid of him.
