Ruben Amorim (40), the manager of Manchester United (Man U), who was struck down by a youth player from Manchester United, did not lose his composure.

The Manchester United led by Amorim lost 0-1 in the 30th round of the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL) against Nottingham Forest in an away match held at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on the 2nd (Korean time).

Ironically, the opponent who scored the decisive goal was Anthony Elanga (23). Born in Sweden, Elanga developed in the Manchester United youth system and made his first-team debut in 2021 under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was 19 years old.

However, Elanga had to choose to transfer as he was outshined by strikers acquired during the era of manager Erik ten Hag. Eventually, he signed a five-year contract and transferred to Nottingham in the summer of 2023.

After joining Nottingham, Elanga recorded 5 goals and 9 assists in 36 league matches last season and has shown growth as a striker with 6 goals and 8 assists in 30 matches this season.

On that day, Elanga sprinted 85 meters from his side and scored with a left-footed shot inside the Manchester United box. Elanga's goal became the decisive goal as no further goals were scored.

With this defeat, Manchester United recorded their 13th loss of the season (10 wins, 7 draws), remaining in 13th place (37 points). This was the 11th scoreless match of the season and marked a humiliation of losing both encounters in a single season against Nottingham for the first time in 33 years since 1992.

According to the British 'Daily Mail', after the match, manager Ruben Amorim was asked in a press conference if it was a mistake for Manchester United to sell Elanga.

In response, Amorim said, "There are many strikers at Manchester United, and they have had opportunities," adding, "There is no time at Manchester United. I will also have no time. We need to make the right decisions quickly."

Elanga has recorded 28 attacking points over two seasons. This is more than any winger currently at Manchester United during the same period. This indicates that it was a wrong decision for Manchester United to discard Elanga.

Anthony (25, Real Betis), Marcus Rashford (28, Aston Villa), and Jadon Sancho (25, Chelsea) all struggled at Manchester United and are currently on loan.

However, manager Amorim acknowledged, "The players you mention have played for Manchester United. They had their opportunities at Manchester United," adding, "The pressure at Manchester United is immense, and sometimes young players do not have the time to grow."

He also emphasized, "But to create such an environment, a strong foundation is necessary. Without a strong foundation, we cannot help young players," stating, "All players, including Elanga, have had opportunities. Sometimes football is like that. The pressure at Manchester United is really high."

Meanwhile, Elanga noted in an interview with the British 'The Times' last February, "Leaving was not easy, but it was a necessary decision. I wanted to play, and I did not want to spend another season playing only 10 minutes or sitting on the bench for 10 games."

He added, "I needed a fresh start, but leaving a club I've been with for nine years was not easy," saying, "Sometimes football is like that. Things may not work out in certain places. I was hopeful because I saw how manager Ten Hag utilized young players at Ajax, but I did not get the opportunities."

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