Selling Elanga, Man Utd 'slaps themselves in the face'

In every defeat Manchester United have had, the same old problems have been present, and so far the team has not found a clear solution to overcome them. However, there is one weakness that has appeared regularly and frequently, and the latest match of round 30 of the Premier League once again highlighted this.

This time, the main character is a player that Manchester United decided to let go, and he clearly shows the team's shortcomings.

Manchester United's costly mistake

Anthony Elanga, against his former club, scored a memorable goal in the fifth minute, after running 85 metres unchallenged. The goal not only gave Nottingham Forest three valuable points, but also gave Manchester United a stark reminder of the problems they have yet to solve. The game was also a crucial step towards Forest’s return to European football for the first time in 45 years.

Elanga, who was sold by Manchester United for just £15m in the summer of 2023, did not let his former club forget him easily. The Swede scored the goal that resulted from a run through the Manchester United defence, something the team could not do throughout the 90 minutes. The goal also became the highlight of the match, and it clearly showed what the "Red Devils" were missing.

Manchester United had 24 shots on goal in the match at The City Ground in the early morning of April 2, a huge number. However, while the team created many attacking opportunities, their finishing was inaccurate and lacking in quality.

Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels finished the game without making any serious saves, which points to a serious problem: despite having plenty of chances, Manchester United's current ability to convert them into goals is extremely limited.

Elanga had a solo run and then scored a classy goal.

This was a stark contrast to Elanga's superb solo effort. His goal was the result of a quick, technical run, an assertion of quality and confidence in decisive situations. Elanga did what Manchester United's attackers in this match could not do, which was to be sharp and make the most of their chances.

This match was another clear example of the Red Devils' persistent problems in the 2024/25 season. Despite having plenty of chances, Manchester United lacked the decisiveness to score, with attackers Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee failing to make a difference in key situations.

Garnacho, despite his impressive dribbling, lacked precision and decisiveness in his final moments. Zirkzee, one of the few bright players in Manchester United's attack of late, lacked support from his teammates and failed to link up play.

Rasmus Højlund was introduced in the second half to try and change things up. However, despite his efforts, the Danish centre-forward’s performances showed that he is a striker who needs more than one goal to get back into form. Højlund lacked confidence and was unable to link up with his teammates, something Manchester United are currently lacking.

With 24 shots, Manchester United can boast of the number of chances created, but the quality of their shots cannot compare to their opponents. Especially after Elanga's opening goal, the "Red Devils" still could not respond sharply. Their shots either lacked precision or were not powerful enough to make Sels struggle.

The story of Elanga and the decision to sell a talent

The sale of Elanga cannot be considered a mistake, at least in the context of Manchester United's decision to sign Antony. However, the bigger problem lies in how the "Red Devils" reinvest the proceeds from the sale of Elanga into the squad, especially in attack.

This is an area where the club have had a lot of problems all season, spending a lot of money on signings but failing to make a real improvement in attack.

Manchester United still have a lot of problems to solve.

This was made even more clear by Elanga’s performance in this game. The Swede, while not Forest’s star man, made a difference in a single moment. That’s what Manchester United have been missing: a striker who can make the most of rare opportunities.

Certainly, the absence of players like Elanga in the current squad is part of the reason why Manchester United are not performing as well as they should. However, the bigger problem lies in the team’s inability to link up their attacking pieces effectively. Buying expensive players without improving their attacking quality is a serious problem.

Manchester United are now facing a disappointing season, and the Europa League could be their last chance to win a trophy this season. However, without a drastic change in squad and improved attacking quality, they will continue to fail to return to the top.

The defeat was a reminder of Manchester United's unresolved issues. The chances are there, but the ability to take them is another story. The "Red Devils" need to act quickly and decisively if they do not want to fall into a long spiral of disappointment.

Source: https://znews.vn/ban-elanga-man-utd-tu-va-mat-post1542568.html