RUBEN AMORIM has hit back over claims that Manchester United made a mistake by selling Anthony Elanga.
Elanga, 22, was the match-winner on Tuesday as Nottingham Forest beat Man Utd 1-0.
The former Red Devils star, sold in 2023 for £15million, dribbled with the ball from well inside his own half after getting on to the end of a header away at a corner by Ryan Yates.
Elanga brushed off a tackle from Alejandro Garnacho with Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu unable to get the ball off him before he shot the ball into the bottom right corner past Andre Onana.
He has been in stunning form for Nuno Espirito Santo‘s Forest this season, scoring six goals and adding nine assists in all 34 appearances.
Speaking after the match at the City Ground, Amorim was asked whether the club had made a mistake in selling the winger.
However, the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss dismissed those claims and insisted he had his chance to prove himself at United before he was sold, although he did admit there is often not enough time to succeed at the Old Trafford club.
Amorim said: “We are talking about a lot of front players for Manchester United that are doing right but they had the chance here.
“At Manchester United you don’t have the time. I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.
Elanga is one of a number of former United stars who have left the club before going on to thrive elsewhere, with Scott McTominay and loanees Antony and Marcus Rashford examples coming from this season.
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Amorim added: “You are not talking about players that didn’t play for Manchester United. They were here playing for Manchester United.
“In here the pressure is too big sometimes and sometimes you don’t get time and you should have time for these kids to develop.
“But for that you need a strong base to support all these kids and if you don’t have strong base we are not going to help our kids.
“They had their chances and sometimes football is like that and the pressure of playing for Manchester United is really big.”
Elanga’s goal against his former club means he now has 28 Premier League goal contributions in his Forest career, better than any Man Utd winger over the last two seasons.
The Swede had originally joined United at the age of 12 before going on to make his debut aged 19 in 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He became a more regular player under interim boss Ralf Rangnick in 2022, but ultimately became frustrated by the lack of opportunities then presented to him under Erik ten Hag.
On leaving the club, he told The Times in 2024: “It was difficult [to leave] but it was needed because I wanted to play and I didn’t want to spend another season just playing 10 minutes or not playing for 10 games,’ he explained.
“I wanted a fresh start but I knew it wouldn’t be easy leaving a club that I had been at for nine years.
“Sometimes football is like that, it might not always work somewhere.
“I had seen what he (Erik ten Hag) did at Ajax (with young players) so I was looking forward to it but I just didn’t get the opportunities.”
Elanga’s winner strengthened his club’s position in terms of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Assuming the Premier League is handed a fifth Champions League spot due to good performances from teams in Europe this season, Forest currently have a 10-point advantage to falling out of the qualifying spots this season with eight games to go.
Meanwhile, Man Utd remain on the hunt for back-to-back league wins this season.
They had more of the ball and had more than 20 shots at goal but struggled to create clear-cut chances other than a goal-line clearance at the end of the game.
Forest travel to Aston Villa in their next league game, while United host Manchester City in the Manchester Derby.
Man Utd player ratings vs Nottingham Forest
MANCHESTER UNITED’S woes continue after another disappointing loss to Nottingham Forest.
Forest picked up a 1-0 victory at the City Ground thanks to ex-United ace Anthony Elanga’s winner after just five minutes.
United remain 13th in the Premier League table and look set for their worst ever Premier League finish.
That is at least what their performance at Forest showed, as Ruben Amorim’s men don’t show signs of really understanding the Portuguese tactician’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.
But who stood out for a poor United’s side? And who was the biggest disappointment?
Check out Kostas Lianos’ players ratings below and find out…
Andre Onana – 5
Can’t blame him for Nottingham Forest’s winner as Anthony Elanga’s shot was too good. Made a stunning save to deny Ryan Yates’ header without knowing the Forest ace was offside.
Leny Yoro – 5
Should have been more aware before Elanga’s goal that came straight after a Man Utd corner-kick in which he had moved forward.
One could argue Yoro made up for it when he stopped a fine run by Elanga in the second half with an amazing and well-timed challenge to save United from a second.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
The centre-back was also nowhere to be seen before Elanga’s goal. No other major errors but should have done better on the rebound after Diogo Dalot’s header hit the crossbar.
Noussair Mazraoui – 4
Completely hopeless during Elanga’s run that led to the goal and struggled in his defensive duties, especially in the first half. Not sure if the full-back fits in a defensive trio as part of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation…
Diogo Dalot – 6
A strong performance down the right wing with some fine runs and good crosses. Registered United’s best chance in the first half when his header rattled Forest’s crossbar.
Casemiro – 4
At fault for Elanga’s goal as there was absolutely no midfield presence during Forest’s counter.
Loads of inaccurate passes and got booked for a reckless challenge on Yates before complaining in a very unjust way. Registered three shots but didn’t cause concern for Matz Sels.
Manuel Ugarte – 4
Cut a rather anonymous figure, among the guilty parties for Elanga’s goal as Man Utd’s midfield was caught sleeping. Rightly substituted at half-time.
Patrick Dorgu – 5
A fine display during the first half as he cut a strong presence down the left flank, even though he was completely outrun by Elanga before the goal.
But the versatile full-back was the complete opposite in the second half with a series of errors against a stunning Neco Williams.
Bruno Fernandes – 6
Registered the game’s first shot on target with a powerful effort that required a lunge from Sels, and that was basically United’s best shot throughout the entire match.
Fernandes produced some fine long balls and upgraded Man Utd’s midfield after Ugarte and Casemiro’s exits.
Alejandro Garnacho – 2
Very disappointing performance from the winger. Completely hopeless before Elanga’s goal with a desperate tackle and was lucky to avoid a booking for a ridiculous challenge on Yates while the Argentina international was on the attack.
A game riddled with heavy touches, failed dribbles, wrong passes, blocked shots and a silly yellow card as he kicked the ball away in frustration. Had a good shot on 69 minutes as a saving grace.
Joshua Zirkzee – 3
Was supposed to be a striker but was often seen playing too deep and didn’t register a chance in front of Forest’s goal. Didn’t inspire any danger even after Rasmus Hojlund came on to help him up front.
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Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Was much better than a woeful Zirkzee up front for Man Utd. But didn’t cause any significant danger and never looked like a goalscoring threat. Harry Maguire looked far more lethal as a false nine after he entered the pitch with a lot more presence inside the box.
Christian Eriksen – 4
Didn’t really elevate United’s midfield after Ugarte and Casemiro’s exit. The sort of performance that makes one wonder about his Old Trafford future…
Harry Maguire – 5
Only played nine minutes as a false nine and was by far Man Utd’s best forward. Brought on as a desperation move that almost paid off with the best chance of the match as his last-gasp effort was cleared by Murillo just off the line.
Mason Mount – N/A
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