Anthony Elanga responds to claims he was forced out of Man Utd by Erik ten Hag following Nottingham Forest switch

Elanga left United to join Forest in a £15m ($19m) deal in the summer, having made 55 first-team appearances for the Red Devils. In his final season at the club, under Erik ten Hag, he made just five Premier League starts, but he has now claimed that the Dutchman did not drive him out of Old Trafford, as he simply went in search of first-team football.

Per SoccerNews.nl, Elanga said: "Was Ten Hag the reason I left United? No, I wouldn't say that. I just wanted to play, that was especially important to me. I'm young and I don't want to sit on the bench all season, you know? When you're young you want to play, you want to make mistakes, you want to take risks. But he wasn't the reason for my leaving. There I mainly focused on myself, not on others.”

He added: “Of course I also saw what he did at Ajax. But when you come to England everything is different. He has improved several players, for example Ryan Gravenberch, who now plays for Liverpool. But I just wanted to take my chance and go somewhere else. And that was a good decision, because I am enjoying myself at Forest.”

Elanga has been in fine form for Forest this season, scoring five league goals and providing six assists, with the club currently 16th, two points clear of the relegation zone. Notably this season, the winger provided an assist in Forest's 2-1 win over Manchester United, admitting after the game he'd wanted to prove himself after his former employers.

Elanga will next be in action for Forest against West Ham on Saturday. Forest haven't won any of their last four, so a victory is imperative for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.