Elanga's Brilliance Fuels Forest's Champions League Dream
Anthony Elanga—remember the name. This 22-year-old Swedish winger, once a promising talent at Manchester United, is now thriving at Nottingham Forest, leading their charge towards an improbable Champions League qualification. And what a statement he made against his former club.
On Tuesday night, Elanga left United trailing in his wake. With Alejandro Garnacho and Patrick Dorgu unable to keep up, he embarked on a breathtaking 70-yard solo run, collecting Ryan Yates’ defensive header and surging forward with blistering speed. As he approached the goal, he showed remarkable composure, slotting the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards out. It was a moment of magic—one that left Forest fans in euphoria but saw Elanga himself refuse to celebrate out of respect for the club he once called home.
That goal secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, pushing Forest up to third in the Premier League table, now 10 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle. With just eight games remaining, the dream of Champions League football is becoming more real by the day.
Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest’s manager, was in awe. “I have never seen a goal like it,” he admitted. Meanwhile, captain Ryan Yates labeled Elanga a “midfielder’s dream.”
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Elanga, holding his man-of-the-match award, spoke humbly after the game. “It’s about attacking space and getting to the goal as quickly as possible. I saw the space and went for it. I believe I’m one of the fastest players in the league,” he told TNT Sports.
His decision to leave United in 2023 for £15m has proven to be a masterstroke. Under Erik ten Hag, he struggled for regular starts, but at Forest, he has found freedom and consistency. His 27 goal contributions in the league since joining the club far outshine United’s current attacking options—Garnacho has 16, Marcus Rashford 14, Amad Diallo 14, and Antony just two.
Despite his resurgence, United’s current boss Ruben Amorim played down any regret over Elanga’s departure. “At Manchester United, you don’t have time. The pressure is huge, and sometimes young players need time to develop,” Amorim stated.
Elanga, however, has no second thoughts. “I made the right decision, 100%,” he told The Athletic. “At United, I felt like I was just playing for the sake of it. At Forest, I play with purpose and I’m improving. I feel like I understand the league inside out now.”
His impact this season has been immense—six goals, eight assists, and an astonishing sprinting statistic, spending 1.17% of his time on the pitch at full speed, the highest in the Premier League.
With Forest closing in on their Champions League dream and an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City ahead, Elanga’s journey is far from over. His speed, confidence, and decisiveness have made him a pivotal figure in this fairytale season. As Nuno put it best, “He did it by himself. There is no better counter-attack. He is a special player.”
For Manchester United, the sting of losing Elanga may only deepen as they struggle for attacking firepower. Meanwhile, for Nottingham Forest, he is the embodiment of a team on the rise, pushing towards an unprecedented finish in the Premier League. Watch out, Europe—Elanga and Forest are coming.
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