Rio Ferdinand fumes at three Man Utd players after Nottingham Forest howler

Manchester United lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest after ex-player Anthony Elanga was allowed to run the length of the pitch and score with just five minutes on the clock

Rio Ferdinand has slammed three Manchester United players for their roles in the early goal which saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest. Anthony Elanga’s stunning solo effort in the fifth minute was enough to give Forest all three points and boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

United, meanwhile, remain rooted to 13th place in the Premier League table and are starring at their first bottom-half finish in 35 years. Elanga, a product of United’s academy who they sold for £15million in 2023, picked up the ball from inside his own half before running 85 metres in nine seconds and slotting past Andre Onana.

Despite the Swedish forward’s brilliance, Ferdinand pointed the finger at three Red Devils players who could’ve stopped him. The ex-United defender, speaking at half-time on TNT Sports, criticised Patrick Dorgu, Alejandro Garnacho, and Noussair Mazraoui.

“I can break this goal down,” Ferdinand began. “I think there’s three moments where they could have maybe stopped this goal. I think, first of all, it’s a wonderful goal from Elanga, and you can’t take anything away from him in that sense.

“But when you’re looking for a defensive point of view, Elanga on the edge of the box there. Dorgu’s got to be goal-side. You’ve got to think defensively first. You know the threat is pace. Be in a better position to stop that. Then he’s behind, he’s chasing, can’t get back.

“And Garnacho has a role to play here. You should take him out, foul him there. You’ve got to foul him there. Take him out. You can see the pace; you can see the support he has.

“And Mazraoui’s got to make a decision. Before he gets into that box, you’ve got to go and engage the attacking player there. Go into the box, get closer to goal. Elanga dispatches.”

Elanga said of his magnificent goal when speaking to TNT post-match: “It’s just about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. That’s where you hurt opposition.

“I just saw the space and I believe that I’m one of the fastest players in the league, so if I am gonna back that I’m gonna have to show it on the pitch and that’s what I did for my goal.”