Anthony Elanga chose to celebrate quietly after a great goal against Manchester United. However, the smile on his face showed his silent satisfaction when scoring against his former club.
Who can blame Elanga? Man United thought Elanga was not good enough and decided to move to Nottingham Forest. As a key part of coach Nuno Espirito Santo's revolution at City Ground, the Swedish player could play in the Champions League next season.
Nottingham Forest's 1-0 victory over Man United has strengthened their position in the top 4 of the Premier League. After their 13th defeat of the season, Elanga's former Old Trafford teammates are facing the prospect of finishing in the bottom half of the rankings for the first time since 1990.
"All you want to do is continue to improve, come here to play football and develop. I really appreciate Manchester United because I learned a lot there. Now I'm enjoying my football and I want to continue," Elanga told TNT Sports after helping Nottingham win their first Premier League double against Man United in more than 30 years.
Players like Elanga show how difficult it will be for coach Ruben Amorim to turn the situation around for the "Red Devils".
"I won't say much about players who don't play for Man United even though they have played here. But at Man United, the pressure is too great and there is no time for such young players to develop. To shine like this, they also have to have a solid foundation before," Amorim said when asked about Elanga's impact at Nottingham.
There was almost no objection from M.U fans when Elanga moved to Nottingham for £15 million in 2023. This is even considered a bargain contract for an academy graduate player who has been with the club since he was 12 years old.
But away from the spotlight at Old Trafford, the 22-year-old midfielder has developed brilliantly. His goal against Man United was his sixth goal in the league this season. It was also the Swedish player's best goal.
Elanga stole the ball counter-attacking, then overcame Patrick Dorgu and Alejandro Garnacho. No Man United player was able to get close in time, helping Elanga comfortably finish dangerously to open the score for the home team.
"I just tried to rush into the space as quickly as possible. When you place your foot close to the penalty area, it can cause damage. I see space and am confident that I am capable enough to take advantage. I practiced a lot for that shot. Running fast is one thing, but the important thing is to keep a cool head," Elanga said of the goal against Man United.
It was an exciting attack that the "Red Devils" fans have been craving for a long time. All Man United fans will certainly be happy if Elanga returns to Old Trafford, especially after seeing Garnacho have a disastrous match against Nottingham.
Elanga's progress since leaving Man United is not the only case. Marcus Rashford has also played better at Aston Villa and is preparing to play in the Champions League quarter-finals. Antony, who left on loan in January this year alongside Rashford, has also impressed at Real Betis.
The decision on Elanga, Rashford and Antony is not necessarily a mistake, but it is a warning for Amorim ahead of the 2025 summer in which he hopes to make comprehensive changes.
New signings always come with risks, especially at Man United. And it is regrettable that among all the players who have come to Old Trafford since their last Premier League win in 2013, only Bruno Fernandes is considered a successful investment. That needs to change quickly if they want to challenge the Premier League again.
Fernandes was still Man United's best player. However, the Portuguese midfielder had a terrible night against Nottingham and as a result, the "Red Devils" also created very few chances.
Man United defend and control the ball well, but only when Harry Maguire is put on the field as a striker can they truly become dangerous.
"This is a familiar scenario for us this season. Man United deserved to win today, not just a draw. But then the team lost 3 points. We know Nottingham can score from seemingly harmless situations. So we can only blame ourselves for wasting the opportunity," Amorim added.
