Nuno Espirito Santo praised Anthony Elanga after the “remarkable” Nottingham Forest winger’s stunning goal secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday.
Elanga showcased his pace by sprinting 85 metres in a mere nine seconds, carrying the ball from deep in Forest’s half right to the edge of United’s penalty area.
The Swedish international, who was sold by United in 2023 as he was considered surplus to requirements, capped off his exhilarating run by coolly slotting the ball past Andre Onana, setting Forest on the path to victory at the City Ground.
“He’s a special talent and his speed is a huge asset for this team. He created that chance on his own and we’re thrilled with his contribution,” said Forest manager Nuno.
“At one point, it felt like the game was slipping away from us. We had to dig deep. It took hard work, belief, and teamwork, including some clearances off the line. It was an extremely tough match.”
Elanga’s moment of brilliance in the fifth minute was the highlight of Forest’s latest impressive display in what has been a dream season.
Nuno’s side currently sits in third place in the Premier League, a remarkable turnaround from last season when they were fighting against relegation.
They are now within reach of a spot in the Champions League and have also reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 34 years.
“The lads are breaking records left and right, and the City Ground played a vital role in the game today. We were under pressure, but the atmosphere helped us immensely,” Nuno remarked.
However, when asked if he was contemplating leading Forest back into Europe’s top club competition for the first time since the 1980-81 season, Nuno replied: “Let’s take it one match at a time. We’re focusing on each day.”
Elanga’s speed was central to Forest’s strategy as they defended deep and looked to counter-attack United.
“It’s all about exploiting the space and getting to the opposite goal as quickly as possible,” the 22-year-old said.
“I noticed the space and I believe I’m one of the quickest players in the league. I’ve been working on my finishing as well.”
‘Togetherness is Key’
Highlighting the influence of former Tottenham manager Nuno, Elanga added: “The manager came in last December during a tough period for us, but he conveyed his vision during the pre-season.
“We’ve managed to adapt to various systems. That sense of unity is crucial, and it shows in our performances.”
United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, acknowledged that his team’s failure to convert opportunities was a key reason behind their first defeat in eight matches across all competitions.
“We controlled large parts of the game and created good chances, but we lacked the final pass and assist. Without that, we can’t find the back of the net,” he explained.
“This season has been about that. We’ve had plenty of shots on goal and applied pressure on the opponent, but our quality in the final third has been lacking.”
“We need to start winning games, and it’s clear we deserved more from this match, but that falls on us. We must perform better in the final third. We should have claimed the win today.”
United now finds themselves languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, with only the Europa League left to salvage a disappointing season as they prepare to face Lyon in the quarter-finals.
Amorim, who took over in November after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, insisted that the team is making strides despite their current position.
“I see progress in our play. I won’t deceive myself. People can say what they like, but we need results,” he said.
“We have the Europa League coming up, and our next Premier League clash is against Manchester City, and that’s where our focus lies.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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