Elanga reveals secrets behind 85m solo run for winner against Man Utd

Anthony Elanga scored a sensational solo goal against his old club to give Nottingham Forest their first league double over Manchester United in 33 years on Tuesday night.

Elanga sprinted three quarters the length of the pitch at the City Ground to strike in the fifth minute as Forest boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification three days after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals after extra-time and penalties against Brighton.

Elanga, who spent nine years at United, said: ‘It’s about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. I saw the space and I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league.

‘I appreciate Manchester United so much, as I learned a lot there.’

The Sweden international covered 85 metres in nine seconds. ‘With the ball,’ Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo pointed out. ‘Imagine without the ball!

‘It was very special. He has the capacity to drive with pace and still be able to control the ball. It’s very difficult and requires a lot of technique.’

Forest still had to dig in to protect the lead, Murillo epitomising their never-say-die attitude with a goal-line clearance from Harry Maguire deep into added time.

‘It was huge for us, better than a goal,’ added Espirito Santo. ‘We were against the ropes in this moment. I’m very, very proud of them.’

Ruben Amorim was unhappy with the way United conceded from their own corner. ‘You have men to block transitions,’ he said. ‘You can make a foul, so you look again and if you are the coach you have to do better.

‘We deserved more from this game. We should have won, not even drawn but we need to be better in that in that final third.’

Asked if United had blundered by letting a player like Elanga go, he replied: ‘We are we are talking about a lot of players that come from Manchester United and they are doing right, but they had the chance here. The pressure is too big sometimes.

‘In Manchester United, you don't have the time. I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.’