Travis Binnion, Manchester United's academy director, has revealed Anthony Elanga's dedication following his meteoric ascent to prominence at Old Trafford this season.
After making his debut at the end of last season, Elanga has established himself as a crucial member for United this season.
The Swedish youth international has made an immediate impact this season, scoring three goals in 16 games.
And, in the aftermath of Elanga's meteoric rise, Binnion, United's Under 18 lead coach, has revealed how Elanga is the ideal role model for the club's next generation of young stars.
Binnion told The Athletic, "He's a terrific model for young players."
Ralf Rangnick has had a big impact on Anthony Elanga at Manchester United.
"He's only recently moved across to the first team, so he's still hanging out with us — and his friends. We had to meet at Carrington at 6 a.m. to be at the airport an hour later when we played in the Youth League at Atalanta.
"Anthony arrived at Carrington around 4 a.m. and went straight to the gym, where we observed him stretching and working out." At 4:45 a.m., one of the coaches arrived and couldn't believe his sights. He did this for every round, regardless of the time, because he felt he had to perform his customary prep. That made an impression on me. He's a great kid that enjoys football.
"During lockdown, our 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old athletes had interviews with youngsters such as Anthony, who was further along in his growth. He never seemed to be able to do enough for them."
Last month, Elanga scored an important goal for United in the Champions League.
Despite just getting a taste of senior football at the conclusion of last season, Elanga has risen through the ranks thanks to a number of impressive performances.
The 19-year-old was United's last-gasp hero in the Champions League last month, when he netted a critical equaliser at the conclusion in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid - only weeks after missing the pivotal penalty that saw United eliminated from the competition by Middlesbrough.
And his current form has helped him rise above Marcus Rashford in the United team's standings after he was selected to start in Sunday's crucial derby loss to Manchester City.
Prior to the game, interim United manager Ralf Rangnick praised Elanga for his remarkable development in the three months since his arrival at the club.
Rangnick replied, "Yes, he's a fantastic person, a great character." "Once again, he's a talented player with some weapons, but he's not a finished product."
"He understands that, and that's the good news: he understands that he can and must improve as a player, but I don't see why this shouldn't happen." If I look at how he's changed in the last three months since I've been here, I don't see why this should suddenly come to an end."
blogpay
Total Comments: 0