Anthony Elanga had left Manchester United previously. On Tuesday, they trailed in his wake.
Alejandro Garnacho and Patrick Dorgu couldn’t sustain with the 22-year-old as he burst from the sting of his personal space on to Ryan Yates’ defensive header, collected the ball and ran 70 yards.
The Sweden winger nonetheless had the composure to seek out the underside nook from 18 yards.
A particular second – however he refused to have a good time towards the membership he joined as a 12-year-old.
A 1-0 win maintained Forest’s relentless quest to achieve the Champions League and left them third within the Premier League, with a 10-point lead over Newcastle in sixth.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he had by no means seen a purpose prefer it, whereas Forest captain Yates labelled his team-mate a “midfielder’s dream”.
“It’s about attacking the house and attending to the other purpose as fast as I can. I noticed the house and I consider I am one of many quickest gamers within the league,” Elanga informed TNT Sports activities whereas holding his man-of-the-match award.
“The end is one thing I’ve been making an attempt to work on. Left foot or proper foot, I’m fairly snug with each toes this season.
“All you wish to do is carry on enhancing. Coming right here is about taking part in and creating. I recognize Manchester United a lot as I discovered loads there.
“I’m having fun with my soccer and I wish to carry on going.”
His £15m transfer to Nottingham Forest in 2023 was meant to carry that enjoyment again into his sport.
He made 55 appearances, scoring 4 targets, for United however was jettisoned by Erik ten Hag, who felt the winger wasn’t going to make the grade. That got here after simply 5 Premier League begins in 2022-23.
Curiously, although, present United boss Ruben Amorim performed down the truth that Elanga was allowed to depart.
He stated: “We’re speaking about a variety of gamers who have been at Manchester United who’re doing proper, however they’d the prospect right here. At United, you do not have the time. I can’t have the time. We have now to get it proper quick.
“They have been right here and right here the stress is just too large generally. Typically you do not have time and it is best to have time for these children to develop.
“For that you just want a powerful base. If you do not have it, we aren’t going to assist our children. They’d their probabilities and generally the stress taking part in for Manchester United is basically large.”
There are clearly no regrets from Elanga, although, whose six-goal return is a season’s finest.
“I made the correct choice, 100%,” Elanga informed the Athletic in December. “I’ve not likely spoken about this, however on the time at United, I used to be very younger and I used to be coming right into a workforce that was struggling.
“Sure, there was the thought that ‘I’m taking part in for Manchester United’. However I additionally by no means felt as if I used to be enhancing. I used to be taking part in for the sake of taking part in once I did get the odd alternative off the bench.
“Coming to Forest was so large for me, as a result of all of the sudden I used to be frequently taking part in 90 minutes, whereas having the chance to enhance. Once I performed, I felt like I had goal; like I used to be taking part in and enhancing within the course of. That was the most important change for me.
“I really feel as if I do know the league inside-out now, as a result of I’ve had the prospect to be taught. I’ve no regrets, as a result of I’m having fun with taking part in implausible soccer with this workforce. We’re in a extremely good place for the time being.”
That place has solely acquired higher after a deserved win over United pushed them nearer to a fairytale finale this season, with an FA Cup semi closing towards Manchester Metropolis a part of it.
With eight video games remaining, they’re closing in on the Champions League.
Elanga has performed his half along with his targets and eight assists, for which he’s joint-seventh within the Premier League standings. And he is fast: Earlier than Tuesday’s sport, the stats confirmed he had spent 1.17% of his time on the pitch this season sprinting – a Premier League excessive.
After Tuesday’s purpose, that determine will undoubtedly have improved.
As Nuno stated of his matchwinner: “He did it by himself. There isn’t a higher counter-attack. He’s a particular participant.”
