United View: Elanga haunts his former employers

United returned from the international break with a trip to the City Ground, losing 1-0 to keep the Reds in 13th. 

After a good run of performances and results, this game was an unfortunate reminder that United’s main issue this season is that they have not been good enough up front.

After two years of struggling to survive in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest have turned things around massively this season. 

Under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, they have found their flow with a solid defence and counter-attacking football, and Champions League football is a very real possibility.

Their only goal was a hallmark of their strengths this season, turning a Manchester United corner into a chance for themselves after Antony Elanga broke away to run the majority of the pitch before slotting past Andre Onana. 

The big question is, why wasn’t he brought down?

Alejandro Garnacho attempted to stop his former teammate but was outmuscled as the Swedish International went on to score his 5th Premier League goal of the season. 

Whilst Elanga’s skill set suits this Forest side’s style of play, it goes without saying that he would also be a fit for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Amorim commented on Elanga’s spell at Old Trafford, saying he had his chance at the club. “You aren’t talking about players who didn’t play for Manchester United, they were here playing for Manchester United. Here, the pressure is too big sometimes. And sometimes you don’t have time and should have time for these kids to develop.”

He also went on to admit that his side were struggling in the final third and failed to create many great opportunities, considering the amount of possession they had.

Going a goal down away to a Forest side who have been excellent defensively this season, made this task even more difficult.

It’s quite damning that United’s biggest threat came in the form of Harry Maguire being deployed as a makeshift striker in the closing minutes of the game, first putting a header wide before having his shot cleared off the line by Murillo in the final minute.

Garnacho resorted to pop shots from outside the area, clearly frustrated after picking up a yellow card for dissent, meanwhile, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failed to make any impact.

This attacking problem isn’t anything new, and since Amad’s injury, this issue has only become more prevalent. 

Unless Bruno Fernandes pulls out his usual heroics, it’s hard to see where the goals are going to come from.

Still, United weren’t terrible against Forest, they built up and kept the ball fine, it’s just that cutting edge that the team is lacking right now. 

Manuel Ugarte going off at half time didn’t help matters as they lost physicality in the middle of the park.

The return of Mason Mount was a welcome one, almost grabbing a goal for himself shortly after coming on. 

He’s one Amorim will need to keep fit as we approach the final run-in of the season.

He wasn’t the only one to come back into the side from injury, with Leny Yoro and the aforementioned Maguire appearing at the City Ground. 

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw was back in training after another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Where United will finish in the league is irrelevant at this point, but fans will want to see improved performances in a month that’s full of big tests for United. 

The Manchester Derby looms on Sunday as the Reds look to do the double over City for the first time since 2019.