Nuno Espirito Santo salutes ‘special’ Anthony Elanga after stunning strike fires Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Anthony Elanga celebrate after the 1-0 English Premier League win over Manchester United at the City Ground on April 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NOTTINGHAM – Nuno Espirito Santo hailed Anthony Elanga after the “special” Nottingham Forest winger’s wonder goal sealed a 1-0 English Premier League win against Manchester United on April 1.
Elanga sprinted 85 metres in just nine seconds in a blistering solo effort that carried him from deep inside the Forest half to the edge of the United area.
The Swede, who was sold by United in 2023 after being deemed surplus to requirements, capped his electric surge by drilling a cool finish past Andre Onana to put Forest on course for victory at the City Ground.
“He’s a special boy and he gives this team his speed. He does it by himself and we are delighted,” Forest boss Nuno said.
“I think the game was going away from us.
“We had to suffer. Hard work, belief, helping each other, clearance on the line. It was a very hard game.”
Elanga’s fifth-minute moment of magic clinched Forest’s latest eye-catching success in a fairy-tale season.
Nuno’s team are sitting third in the Premier League just a year after battling to avoid relegation.
A place in the Champions League is within touching distance, while they have also reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 34 years.
“The records, the boys are breaking all of them and today the City Ground was part of the game. We were against the ropes. The City Ground helps us,” Nuno said.
But asked if he was ready to think about leading Forest to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 1980-81, Nuno said: “Let’s focus on the next one. It is day by day.”
Elanga’s pace was the key to Forest’s success as they sat deep and hit United on the counter.
“It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can,” the 22-year-old said.
“I saw the space and I believe I’m one of the fastest players in the league.
“The finish is something I have been trying to work on.”
Praising the impact of former Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno, Elanga added: “The manager came in December last season and we struggled, but he got his ideas across in pre-season.
“We have been able to play different systems. That togetherness is important and it says it on the pitch.”
Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga scores the winning goal past Manchester United’s Andre Onana.
PHOTO: REUTERS
United manager Ruben Amorim admitted his side’s lack of attacking quality was the key factor in their first defeat in eight games in all competitions.
“We controlled the game. We tried with good opportunities, but the last pass, the last assist wasn’t there. Then if we don’t have that we cannot score,” he said.
“This season is like that. We had a lot of shots on goal, we pushed the opponent, but in the last third we had a lack of quality.
“We need to win games and we deserved more in this game, that is clear, but it is our fault and we need to be better in the last third. We should have won this game.”
Alejandro Garnacho was especially wasteful in attack for United, having had six of United’s 23 shots on goal, without really testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Amorim defended him, saying: “He’s trying. Sometimes you have one day that you are doing the right things, but in the final third, you are not that good, that can happen.
“The most important thing for me is... he is running back. Of course, we want a player that has one against one. Sometimes he is trying too much... Sometimes he doesn’t make the best choice, but you cannot point to any player today.”
United are languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, with only the Europa League left to salvage a wretched campaign as they look ahead to a quarter-final against Lyon.
Amorim, who was hired in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag, insisted his team were making progress despite their lowly position.
“I see it in the game. I don’t lie to myself. Everyone can say whatever they want to say, but we need to win games,” he said.
“We have Europa League and we have the next game in the Premier League (against Manchester City) and that is the focus.”
The poor result left United within one loss of their record 14 Premier League defeats in the 2023-24 season.
“In Manchester United, you don’t have the time,” Amorim said.
“I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast. In here, the pressure is too big sometimes.”
AFP, REUTERS
