Afcon 2023 is over. What a remarkable end to a tournament dripping in drama.
Thanks for your company, SportsFila.com.
The night has only just started in Abidjan.
EPL
How Anthony Elanga Became Better Than Marcus Rashford
Let’s Look At How Anthony Elanga Became Better Than Marcus Rashford.
“Elanga plays for United as if a dream comes true,” offered Rangnick, “and it’s just joy and fun to watch him play. He’s just enjoying himself on the pitch and that’s what it’s all about. Football is a ball game and you have to enjoy yourself on the pitch.” Charity hero Rashford looks like he has lost interest in football.
Less than 11 months ago, the prospect of winning a one-on-one duel with Jan Oblak, one of the world’s finest goalkeepers, was literally nothing more than fantasy for teenager Elanga yet to make a single senior appearance. Rangnick’s predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, had warned of what was coming, saying last April: “In Anthony, we have a player with good skills, a great attitude and he scores goals from either the right or left, and he’s got good pace. He’s got that X-factor.”
And yet, for all the forewarning, for the outings (and a goal) against Leicester and Wolves last season, Elanga’s impact at first-team level in 2021/22 has still been sensational. Behind the meteoric rise, the fuel has been simple but effective. Winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2020 for his exploits in the Under-18s’ Covid-curtailed season, the Swedish forward has hauled himself into the senior setup with total commitment and relentless graft in addition to his footballing attributes. That period included training sessions with ex-Reds striker Dwight Yorke, who was impressed by what he saw.
“I think Anthony Elanga has a really good chance of making it,” the former Trinidad & Tobago star told The Athletic. “I was impressed by his attitude when I spent time with him. He was trying to be the best, he was willing to listen properly and he has plenty of speed. I also told him not to get bogged down into trying to be the star man and explained that he had to work in different ways, including doing some of the ugly stuff in football which not every player likes to do — all that running off the ball. I explained to Anthony that if you have that persistence, you’ll end up getting your rewards in the long run.”
“Every time I get on the ball I want to create something, especially when the fans sing. I want to show them and repay them, they’re not singing for no reason, they’re singing for a reason and I appreciate them so much. It’s a dream come true and I live for moments like this. It means a lot to me”, Anthony Elanga said.
Cristiano Ronaldo inspires Elanga: Rashford doesn’t learn to grow.
The role of meticulous preparation in Cristiano’s career is no secret, and Anthony is already renowned for taking a similarly committed approach to life in the gym and out on the training pitch. Every day is a school day, with information all around him just waiting to be soaked up. “It all starts from training and in the gym, and it’s about looking at what the other players do and taking some notes from them. Training with them day-in, day-out helps me a lot, not just from a technical side of the game, but a tactical side of the game too, and what they do out of possession [for example], and that all leads into the games. When I’m in a game I like to talk a lot with the older lads and they give me really good advice, which helps me a lot. Speaking every day to the likes of Rashy, Jesse and Scott, and training with them every day, is brilliant.”
How Anthony Elanga Became Better Than Rashford
Elanga’s hard-working approach further impressed Rangnick who, after first accepting the role of interim manager, watched YouTube videos of Elanga in action and quickly shelved plans for the youngster to be loaned out. The door was open to a player with Anthony’s talent and application, regardless of his age.
“From the start when we did our first session, he was like: ‘If you continue to be 100 per cent in everything you do then you will play,’” explains Anthony. “He gives me good advice and helps me a lot, and obviously he’s been giving me game-time as well, which I appreciate a lot. I just want to repay the favour by putting in the performances and giving 150 per cent in training, and leading into the games with that and keeping that up.”
UNLIKE MARCUS RASHFORD, ELANGA IS HUNGRY AND HUMBLE
The results speak for themselves.
“Elanga is hungry and more humble than Marcus Rashford as a young player coming into the team, and he’s just champing at the bit,” noted United legend Rio Ferdinand, after the draw with Atletico. “I like the fact that he’s impacted games. Three away goals – which is a big thing, scoring away from home – and he’s come on and contributed. I think that’s all you want as a young player, to come on and not be anonymous, have an impact, and he’s done that. I think he’s a really good example to all young players coming through – you bide your time, you get in and you’ve got to make your mark when you get in there.”
Contributing to the collective, enjoying himself and lifting spirits on and off the pitch, it’s safe to say that Anthony Elanga has already made his mark at United. And there’s still so much more to come from him – you can feel it in the air
Gary Neville has admitted he’s puzzled by Marcus Rashford’s poor Manchester United form.
The 24-year-old has scored just five goals in 26 appearances this season, the last of which came against West Ham in January. Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville offered some advice for the United striker.
“I get the fact that he’s not playing at the moment,” he explained. “His form is poor and is drained of confidence.
ALSO READ: ‘Should be over’ – Manchester United fans share Mauricio Pochettino verdict after PSG defeat
“Nobody knows what has happened to him. Looks completely uncomfortable and unhappy on the pitch.
“When he came on against Atletico Madrid, he looked like there was just nothing there. So, he needs to.
But I do feel like Marcus Rashford needs to just go away this summer for a few weeks where he reassesses himself, what he wants from life and who he wants around him.
“He’s not playing with freedom at this time. I’d hate to think that from an academy player at the age of nine that has got great talent, would just leave after his first bad period, even if it has been 12 or 18 months now.”
Must-Read Articles
Manchester United assessing potential Erik ten Hag replacements 👀 Mark Ogden shares details with SportsFila.
The fact that Southgate is on that list tells how serious you should take it
No manager on earth could do anything with Manchester United until Someone takes responsibility for the club and has a viable plan for the future.
Manchester Derby PREDICTIONS By SportsFila: Man Utd vs City
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group, the club’s new partial owners, are exploring options to assume the role. According to Team Talk, the Red Devils are considering the 41-year-old as a candidate for the manager position.
After achieving success as a player with Barcelona, Inter, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning numerous titles, the two-time Champions League winner transitioned to coaching at the senior level.
Flop Antony and Gabriella Cavallin/ getty Images
ESPN loves ManUtd. As much they say that they hate talking about ManUtd they can’t stop talking about ManUtd 😅😅. They have spend 15 mins speaking on rumours – Hypocrites.
Sack Ten Hag Now: Man Utd Fan Makes Bold Claim
It’s not Ten Hag fault when players like rashford do not put in all the effort after signing a new contract. Also ten hag had to deal with incredible amount of injuries which ESPN deliberately overlooks. So getting another manager isn’t going to solve anything.
It’s so funny how the English media fails to realize that the structure & the players is the problem at united…..but they trying to sack ETH who is an elite manger under a proper management structure 💯
The best manager that seems to be being overlooked shouod be n1 on the list for bayern utd liverpool is someone inzaghi. Hes done great things with Lazio and inter. Loads of experience and has got to european finals and won domestic leagues.
Manchester City 3-1 win over United in Manchester Derby.
It is very different getting an underdog /dark horse to perform vs going to an environment where the spotlight in on you everyday from day 1. The same thing happened at Bayern with a couple of their coaches…
Afcon 2024 victory is well deserved for Ivory Coast they left no stone unturned and they dominated throughout. If there is a one person who deserved to win the AFCON it was Sebastian Haller. In 2022, he was diagnosed with cancer but he recovered and he returned to play football in 2023 only to bottle the Bundesliga title on the final matchday to Bayern but here we are in 2024 where he scored the winner in the AFCON final to win Cote d’Ivoire AFCON title so congratulations🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🏆
Brazil Antony fulfill his potential at Manchester United?
FT: Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
But Ivory Coast won fair and square. They played better. Congratulations champs.
What Adingra did in the African Cup of Nation was phenomenal. Nigerians will remember him as a nighmare forever. The boy has a great future ahead of him.
Why Biased Ten Hag Cannot Discipline Rashford Like Sancho
Haller beats cancer, then comes to the AFCON and scores the most important goal in the final, the winning goal what a beautiful story for that man and Ivory coast, congratulations to them👏👏
Congratulations to Ivory Coast from cameroonian👏👏👏you organized and won the most beautiful AFCON in story, unbelievable achievment when we look how things went for you.
One of the best tournaments I’ve seen.
Almost every team demonstrated that they were not afraid of their opponent and played above expectations.
Congratulations to Côte d’Ivoire who never gave up and believed and implemented their progress towards goal as much as possible until the last second in this tournament. Kudos to Nigeria for high yield and quality.
Thank you for making the spectators so emotional and congratulations and best wishes to the Ivory Coast and the Ivorian people.
FT: Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
Afcon 2023 is over. What a remarkable end to a tournament dripping in drama.
Thanks for your company.
The night has only just started in Abidjan.
Congratulations to Ivory Coast for winning the Africa Cup🏆! The team showed strength and desire to win and to not give up until the end. And the fans were absolutely amazing
P.s Haller deserved it the most, since he suffered a lot.
The story of Côte d’Ivoire’s victory in the African Nations is one of the most beautiful stories in the history of football. We sympathized with this team’s version a lot and we will tell it to our children in the future 🧡
MUST-Read Articles
- This is The reason why Victor Osimhen wears a mask when Playing Football
- How World Cup Winner Pogba Got Banned From Football
- Rasmus Hojlund keeps scoring in recent Premier League
‘He’s very coachable, he wants to learn, to improve every day’ |SportsFila can feel the meaning of a ‘coachable player that wants to improve every day’. Because ETH has to deal with players that are not like this at all.
remember at Ajax TH once said “a process takes time, but by throwing in young players in big games that process gets accelerated”. Always stuck with me considering he let Mainoo debut against Everton (after the 10 point deduction at an intense Goodison Park) and then straight into the Galatasaray away game in the CL. H
He also has done the same with Garnacho last year and this year. Then he did the same with Pellistri against Bayern Munich who in my opinion did well enough to deserve another chance. I think it’s a way for him to see how they respond to the pressure and intensity. He’s not afraid to play the youngsters ONLY if he considers them good and fearless enough.
Why Roma loved and sacked Jose Mourinho
He made De Ligt Ajax captain at 18 years old because he saw leadership qualities. He has his own methods, but I’m convinced he knows exactly what he’s doing regarding the future of United. United fans need to remember 75% of this current squad won’t be part of the future so maybe allow him a bit more time to show what he’s trying to build.
Varane and Sancho could leave Utd/ getty Images/
ETH is a highly resillient manager to go through all the crisis and egos, poor performances, players personal issues and ownership drama and come out on the other side with these kind of performances. He brought in the right striker young full of potential and work ethic. Young players are starring in the squad WE ARE ON THE WAY.
Jadon Sancho Will REGRET His Behaviour At Man United
All the instability across the club that he’s gone through and still kept us in the Top 8. Now he’s finally seeing the other side of the drawn-out “club sale, no-sale”, multiple injuries, media controversies, spoiled players, and all the other nonsense, we see the team moving into sixth position. The man deserves all the praise in the world for being so resilient.
It’s interesting hearing ten hag speaking on rashford because he mentions a lot of qualities which he possesses, however they are all physical and technical, the one thing he didn’t speak positively about was his mentality and for me this is what has always separated Rashford from the very best.
In football and sport as a whole mentality is the one thing you need more than anything, it’s what separates the good from the great and I don’t know if rashford has that real hunger and desire in him to be great. The kind of desire where you’re willing to get hurt to score a goal.
Must-Read Articles
- Why Biased Ten Hag Cannot Discipline Rashford Like Sancho
- Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are REVIVING Man United
- Jurgen Klopp Leaving Liverpool: Man Utd Fans Reactions
