'Henry is my reference' – Forest's Elanga on his best season yet

Anthony Elanga raised his arms successful an almost apologetic manner.

The winger had conscionable fired Nottingham Forest into nan lead against erstwhile broadside Manchester United aft a dazzling 70-yard run.

But nan Swede elected not to observe retired of respect for nan squad he joined astatine nan property of 12.

That is contempt Elanga's left-footed decorativeness being nan reward of hours of difficult activity successful his ain time.

"During lockdown I trained a batch connected my near foot," Elanga told Football Focus' Dion Dublin.

"I trained for 8 months conscionable connected my near foot. Constantly, conscionable hitting nan shot near foot, near foot, near foot!"

Elanga near his hometown successful Malmo, Sweden to subordinate United successful 2012 and made his debut for nan nine successful May 2021.

He scored 4 goals successful 55 appearances for earlier joining Forest successful a £15m woody successful 2023.

With six goals and 8 assists successful 31 Premier League appearances this season, nan 22-year-old is enjoying his champion play to day - a feat nan Sweden world puts down to studying nan elasticity of Arsenal fable Thierry Henry.

"I ever usage nan reference of Thierry Henry," continued Elanga. "I deliberation he was really bully astatine that, playing connected nan wing, up front, striker.

"I want to beryllium capable to adhd different traits to my crippled and beryllium an unpredictable player."

The betterment successful Elanga's crippled should travel arsenic nary surprise, fixed he hired his ain coach for individual activity 4 years ago.

"I ever said nan champion finance you tin do is successful yourself, it's successful your body, because it is yourself that is going to get you to wherever you want to go," said Elanga.

"Why not put successful yourself? Maximise everything you tin do, effort and make judge you are successful nan champion shape, champion shape ever available. Availability is nan champion ability."

If Elanga's play has been impressive, Forest's has been moreover better.

With 7 matches to spell successful nan Premier League, nan two-time European Cup winners are successful 3rd and connected people to suffice for nan Champions League.

Nuno Espirito Santo guided Forest to information past play pursuing his assignment successful December 2023 and has taken nan broadside to caller heights this term.

"The head is fantastic, his man-management is 2nd to none. The truth he tin speak truthful galore languages already helps nan squad successful itself," said Elanga, who speaks 4 languages.

"For him to person a due pre-season, pinch each nan players, each nan caller players, getting to cognize them, and him laying down nan foundations for nan measurement he wants to play this season, that really helped nan team.

"It has been showing nan measurement we are connected nan pitch. I deliberation we person 1 of nan champion defences successful nan league.

"We are really objective up beforehand arsenic well. Chris Wood! It's each adding up. He believes successful america and we judge successful him, and erstwhile you person that 2 moving together, you go unstoppable."

With England earning an further Champions League spot adjacent season, Forest's chances of qualifying person improved.

Elanga is 1 of nan fewer players wrong nan Forest squad to person played Champions League shot successful nan past.

"It's a title that everyone wants a portion of," nan Swede said.

"I person played successful it, Callum [Hudson-Odoi] played successful it, others too.

"I was really young astatine that time, now I person matured moreover much truthful to beryllium capable to play successful that title now would consciousness moreover much special. To do it pinch this team, that would beryllium amazing."