Anthony Elanga left Manchester United in the summer of 2023 after minimal game time under Erik ten Hag and came back to haunt his former club on Tuesday night.
Manchester United lost 1-0 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with ex-United winger Anthony Elanga providing the only goal of the night after an incredible solo effort.
Ruben Amorim was not the manager who sold Elanga but he was fiercely questioned about the decision after the midweek defeat.
It was actually under Erik ten Hag when the winger departed the club after struggling to find minutes in the team over the 2022/23 campaign.
Since arriving at Forest, Elanga has taken positive strides forward in his development although some fans suggest that the same progression wouldn’t have been made at Old Trafford.
When Elanga explained United exit
Despite running almost the full length of the pitch, dancing around tackles and calmly slotting the ball past the keeper, Elanga chose not to celebrate his wonder-goal against United out of respect for his former club.
This is unsurprising though, as the 22-year-old doesn’t tend to speak ill of the club he spent nine years with, after rising through the youth ranks from the age of 12.
There were often question marks over the reason for Elanga’s exit, with some claiming that Ten Hag wanted to sell the player. Those have resurfaced following his goal against the Reds, but he has already explained the departure.
When previously quizzed by soccerNews.nl about whether Erik ten Hag was the reason he left United, Elanga demonstrated a maturity beyond his years. “No, I wouldn’t say that,” he responded. “I just wanted to play, that was especially important to me.”
He continued: “I’m young and I don’t want to sit on the bench all season, you know? When you’re young you want to play, you want to make mistakes, you want to take risks. I focused on myself there, not on others.”
Elanga loving life at Forest
If it was game time he wanted, then Elanga will surely be a happy man, playing a vital role in Forest’s last two Premier League campaigns and shining this season as they seem destined to take third place and gain entry to the Champions League.
This success for Forest seems a world away for United and their fanbase currently, with the Red Devils only hope for Champions League football coming in the Europa League, which they must win to be offered a spot.
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A lot can change in a short space of time in football, just ask any regular attendee at the City Ground. Flash back a year ago and Forest were vying for their place in the league, battling a points deduction and relegation against the likes of Everton.
United will be hoping for a similar turnaround to their fortunes as this domestic season is all but written off as Amorim sets his sights to Europe and the club’s summer transfer window.
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