Ruben Amorim knows who is to blame after Anthony Elanga embarrassed Man Utd

Manchester United’s season of struggle continued at the City Ground on Tuesday night as former star Anthony Elanga scored the only goal for Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest

Ruben Amorim said it was Groundhog Day for Manchester United as Anthony Elanga returned to haunt them at the City Ground. The Old Trafford chief said deficiencies at both ends of the pitch cost his side dear as club’s ex-academy graduate scored the goal of his life to seal a 1-0 victory.

Elanga charged 90 metres from the edge of his own penalty area in under ten seconds to net a superb virtuoso winner in the fifth minute. But the Portuguese believed his team deserved more while admitting United had only themselves to blame for defeat.

He said: “This season is like that. We had a lot of shots on goal, we pushed the opponent to the last third, but in the last third we had a lack of quality. We need to win games and we deserved more in this game, that is clear, but it is our fault and we need to be better in the last third.

“We should have won this game, not even drawn, but in the end we have lost three points. We know the characters of the team and one goal can put them in one situation they love. We helped them win three points.”

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Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was purring at the final whistle as Forest overcame another hurdle in their bid for Champions League qualification.

Elanga’s strike was the stand-out moment – although it took a superb goalline clearance from Murillo to deny sub Harry Maguire in the last few seconds of injury time.

He said: “It was a magnificent goal. Amazing. He did by himself. It was special. At such speed. The finishing was great. He likes to drive forward with the ball. I have seen him do that before – but not over such distance.”

The goalscorer said he backed himself to find the net, saying: “I believe I’m one of the fastest players in the league, I just saw the gap and kept going.”

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