FORMER Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has slammed the club for “closing the door”;; on Nottingham Forest matchwinner Anthony Elanga.
And Meulensteen claims Elanga is much more of a United winger than , who struggled again in Tuesday night’s
Meulensteen worked with junior United teams before becoming a first-team coach under
The Dutchman told Poker Firma: “I’ve never been sold on to be fairly honest.
“I think there’s a personality and character issue at times.
“ on the other hand, his performance the other night was exactly what you want to expect from a Manchester United winger – strong, direct, powerful, full of confidence and taking players on.
“I always thought Elanga showed those glimpses when he was playing for Man United, but the club closed the door on him and his career has restarted at a different club.
“You really have to question the decision-making process to let players like him go, because there’s been a few who have slipped through the fingers.”;;
Elanga with the sensational fifth-minute goal that earned Forest a precious victory.
The international broke from a United corner and ran more than 80 yards, with power and pace, before confidently stroking a calm finish past .
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In that magical ten seconds, Elanga highlighted his own qualities and showed up the deficiencies of goal-shy United.
’s side created a number of openings but did not have enough quality in the final third to make them count as Forest defended the lead with their lives.
, and other forward players who have left the club and thrived elsewhere, were all given chances at Old Trafford.
Elanga joined United at the age of 12 and contributed just four goals and four assists in 55 appearances for the first team, 25 of them starts.
Amorim said: “We are not talking about players who did not play for .
“Here the pressure is too big, sometimes. Sometimes you don’t have time and you should have time for these kids to develop.
“But for that you need a strong base to support all these kids. If you don’t have that strong base, we are not going to help our kids.”;;
Elanga, who is still only 22, joined Forest for £15m in the summer of 2023 after being frozen out by former United manager .
He managed six goals and nine assists in 36 Premier League games last season and is on course to beat that, with six goals and eight assists in 30 appearances in this campaign.
I’ve never been sold on Alejandro Garnacho.
Former United coach Rene Meulensteen
Garnacho’s contribution at United pales in comparison.
The Argentinian has contributed only four Prem goals this season – and just one of them since Amorim took charge in November.
The winger, 20, appears unsuited to his manager’s 3-4-2-1 system and seemed to be trying too hard to make an impact against Forest as the team yet again struggled for cutting edge.
Amorim said: “He’s trying. You have one day where you are doing the right things, but in the final third we were not that good. That can happen.
“The most important thing for me is when he needs to run back, he is running back.
“Sometimes he is trying too much. He wants to help the team by doing his best. Sometimes he doesn’t make the best choice but you can point to any player today.”;;
But Elanga’s devastating, match-winning contribution only underlined what Garnacho and United lack.
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