When Erik ten Hag took to the stage at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, the Dutchman was quick to point out players he didn’t need in his quest for the Premier League title. In the next transfer windows, we saw the results. One of those singled out was Anthony Elanga. The Swede had gone through the ranks at the academy, into the first team with at times very promising pace. It stopped with 55 games, 4 goals and 4 assists in the United shirt. United supporters have suffered through poor seasons in the Premier League, while Elanga has developed into one of the sharpest in the Premier League.
It is not a new phenomenon that redundant United players sparkle outside Old Trafford, in the case of Elanga there is a big question mark over whether Ten Hag really saw the potential in the Swedish winger. This season, Elanga has 13 Premier League goals, just five behind Manchester United’s top scorer, Bruno Fernandes. This for the Premier League’s 3rd best club, 10 places above Manchester United in the table.
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Ruben Amorim was asked before the Forest battle for Elanga sale was a big blunder by Erik ten Hag and the gang.
“There are completely different expectations in a completely different club. We cannot compare players in different contexts with different playing styles. Right now, Elanga plays just behind the striker as number 10. Sometimes coaches see something in a player that can help them improve. But again. It’s a completely different club. You know the pressure we’re under. Some players can adapt to it, others can’t,” Amorim said, according to the BBC.
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“We try to make decisions based on facts and what we see. Sometimes you see one thing and then the players go to another club where they can play in a different way. Sometimes you did the right thing, but it can also go the other way,” says Amorim.
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It is quite clear that Amorim has learned to deal with English journalists. No one should lure the Portuguese into yet another question trap, where he has to say what he really meant afterwards. Best to give the club their full support.
