Anthony Elanga: “I Lacked Progress at Man United, But Now I Have a Sense of Purpose at Forest”
When Anthony Elanga and Ola Aina came across their ratings in the newest FIFA video game, Elanga had a hard time hiding his frustration.
While Aina, a teammate at Nottingham Forest, boasted a pace rating of 89, Elanga’s was just 87. Though close friends, the winger — who has flourished at Forest after receiving the consistent playing time he desired during his stint at his former club Manchester United — felt it was unfair.
“I was not happy, but I don’t take it that seriously,” he shares with eScored. “Because I am actually doing it in the Premier League — and I am the fastest in the dressing room. I’d go as far as saying I am the fastest in the Premier League.”
This is a bold assertion. However, since last season commenced, no player has delivered more goals (two) and assists (six) from fast breaks in the Premier League than Elanga. His total of six goals and 11 assists during this period is only surpassed by Chelsea’s Cole Palmer among players 23 years old or younger.
The speed and directness of players such as Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jota Silva, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Aina lies at the heart of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s philosophy.
Nuno has crafted a Forest team that is incredibly tough to break down, while aiming to strike hard on counter-attacks.
“When we have the chance to break, we have this fierce desire to finish teams off; to never let them relax,” Elanga states. “I aim to be a threat. I want them to be concerned about me. But they also realize they have Callum, Morgan, and (Chris) Woody to think about too. That is what is making us a significant threat in the league this year.”
When Elanga transferred to Forest from United for £15 million in July 2023, it was a monumental choice for the winger, who had played 55 times for United.
However, those included merely 25 starts following his senior debut against Leicester City in May 2021. While the young winger exhibited work ethic and energy, there never appeared to be a coherent strategy for developing a player who was still relatively raw.
At Forest, Elanga believes he is precisely where he needs to be to grow and learn. “I made the right decision, 100 per cent,” he asserts.
“I haven’t talked much about this, but during my time at United, I was very young and coming into a struggling team. Yes, there was that thought of, ‘I am playing for Manchester United’. But I also never felt as though I was improving. I was playing just to play when I occasionally got a chance off the bench.
“Joining Forest was monumental for me because suddenly I was consistently playing 90 minutes while having the chance to improve. When I played, I felt a sense of purpose; like I was progressing in the process. That was the most significant shift for me. I feel as if I know the league inside-out now, as I have had the opportunity to learn. I have no regrets, because I am enjoying playing excellent football with this team. We are currently in a great place.”
Elanga relished his return to Old Trafford, securing a win earlier this month, although it came with mixed emotions due to the passing of Kath Phipps, a beloved staff member and training ground receptionist at United.
“It was incredible to go back there and win. But I had mixed feelings because a significant person, both to United and to me, had passed away,” reveals Elanga, who laid a wreath on the Old Trafford pitch on behalf of Forest before the match — a gesture he specifically requested.
“She meant a lot to everyone, and to me in particular, because she was one of the few individuals who kept in touch with me. Whenever I saw her, she would brighten my day.”
Elanga and Forest paid their respects to Kath Phipps when the teams met at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Despite Forest’s success at Old Trafford, Elanga believes that Ruben Amorim, who recently took over for Erik ten Hag at United, will revive their fortunes.
“It is the biggest club in the world and there will always be pressure; there will always be eyes on you. He was spot-on when he remarked they are a massive club, but not a massive team. That will take time. However, I am confident they will possess the quality to return to that level.”
Elanga is now playing a significant role in enhancing the reputation of another club with a rich history of success.
As Forest prepares to face a Brentford team that remains unbeaten at home on Saturday, they continue to defy predictions that they would face a third successive season of relegation struggles.
But Nuno has instilled defensive solidity in Forest. The expected goals (xG) for opposing teams across the 16 Premier League matches so far has only been 1.08 per 90 minutes. Only Arsenal (0.89) and Liverpool (0.98) have managed lower figures. However, their varied attacking threats — paired with their speed — keep opposition defenses on edge.
Elanga admits he felt relief after scoring his first goal of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday. “I love to score, I love to assist, and have an impact on the game,” he remarks. “I know my teammates have been doing a fantastic job, even when I haven’t been scoring. But it was wonderful to get my first winner in front of the Trent End. I wanted to ensure that my teammates knew I will always be there fighting for them.”
Both United fans and Forest supporters will recognize the attributes Elanga brings to the team. He is not someone who obsessively tracks his statistics — although he does confess that his goal drought had begun to weigh on him — and he boasts a strong support system around him.
“When I go home to my girlfriend, we don’t really discuss football. It’s my time to unwind,” he explains. “I have football time and family time. When I’m at training, I am focused and locked in. It’s strictly football. When you leave the training ground, you have to switch off.
“I enjoy meditating. That helps me relax. I read the Bible. I’m also reading a book called Relentless, about Kobe Bryant. I find inspiration in the mentalities of other athletes from the past and how they faced challenges and achieved success.
“It teaches you to stay grounded and humble. To work hard. LeBron James (still playing for the LA Lakers at 39) is another exemplary figure of what you can achieve if you invest in yourself; if you take care of yourself. That holds immense importance for me. If I invest in myself, the only person who can hinder my progress is myself.
Elanga looks up to LeBron, Kobe, and Salah (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
“It won’t be my coach or anyone else… it will be me who makes that decision, because I’m the one out there on the pitch; I’m the one who has to consider what I eat, when I sleep, how I recover… all those factors are my responsibility. That mentality has certainly aided me in navigating the start of this season. I don’t burden myself with pressure because I believe that if you put in the hard work, if you approach things correctly, once they align for you, they will continue to go well.
“For me, the key is to maintain consistency. Look at Mo Salah. People labeled him a one-season wonder… but he is still here now, proving critics wrong. I am 22, I still have ample time and many paths for improvement. I believe I will do that because I have support from within the club and outside of it.”
On Forest’s resurgence under Nuno, Elanga notes that the groundwork was laid during pre-season, in a training camp in Spain, when the manager gathered the players and encouraged them to have faith in themselves.
“We do believe. That is our motto: to have faith every time we step onto the pitch,” Elanga affirms.
“We aim to sustain that mindset. If we win a match, when we return to training his message is always consistent: it was a good win, well done, but now onto the next one.
“That belief has become a fundamental strength for us this season.”
Likewise, Elanga’s speed is an asset for Forest. And regrettably for opposing defenders, they not only have to contend with the swift Elanga in a video game but also in reality.
(Top photo: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
