Anthony Elanga has admitted he was determined to prove himself against former club Manchester United over the weekend when Nottingham Forest dished out a shock Premier League win.
Elanga, who joined United at the age of 12 when his family moved to England from Sweden, played a key role and assisted Morgan Gibbs-White’s winning goal as Forest secured their first victory over the inconsistent Red Devils since December 1994.
The 21-year-old was sold by United to Forest in July for around £15m after making 55 first-team appearances but struggling to establish himself as a key player.
“Last season wasn’t easy for me because I’d play five or ten minutes then, I wouldn’t play [for] ten games, then it would be in and out,” Elanga told NBC.
“I’ve just stayed strong. I’ve had my family supporting me when it’s been difficult and I’ve not even been in the squad. This game [against United] was kind of personal for me, to prove that I am capable of playing at higher levels.
Anthony Elanga was never more than a fringe player at Man Utd
Anthony Elanga was never more than a fringe player at Man Utd / MB Media/GettyImages
“I’m just grateful for Nottingham Forest for bringing me in, especially [former manager] Steve Cooper. Now, he’s obviously left and Nuno [Espirito Santo] and his staff have come in and done a tremendous job so far.”
Elanga played 87 minutes of the win at the City Ground, with his assist adding to the two he got in a Boxing Day win over Newcastle United, having also scored in the pre-Christmas defeat to Bournemouth in the space of the last three Premier League games alone.
The player has started 14 Premier League games in his first half-season with Forest, compared to five in the competition with United across the whole of 2022/23.
As for United, the loss left them seventh in the Premier League table going into 2024. It was a ninth league defeat for Erik ten Hag’s team, which already matches the number for last season with 18 games still to play. The club has never lost more than 12 times in a single Premier League campaign.
