Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga has implied that he and Teden Mengi are ready to fight for their Red Devils futures under Erik ten Hag with a comment on Instagram.
The young Reds duo played alongside one and other in the academy sides for the twenty-time league champions.
While Elanga was handed his first-team debut under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, the 20-year-old has a wealth of attacking talent ahead of him in the pecking order with Ten Hag in charge.
Cristiano Ronaldo may no longer be at the club, but the nine-time Sweden international is competing with Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for a spot in United’s forward line.
Elanga has started six games under Ten Hag, but he hasn’t scored a goal for club and country since netting against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in February.
With Antony and Rashford still at the World Cup and Sancho embarking on an individual training programme, United’s number 36 will be hoping to impress Ten Hag during United’s winter training camp in Spain, which includes friendlies against La Liga sides Cadiz and Real Betis.
Anthony Elanga and Teden Mengi will fight for Manchester United futures under Erik ten Hag
Elanga will be hoping that impressive performances in Spain result in him starting United’s first game back after the World Cup, which is against Burnley in the Carabao Cup.
Mengi, who is also part of the 29-man squad that Ten Hag took to Spain, has featured prominently for United’s Under-21s in recent weeks after marking his return from injury.
But both Mengi and fellow under-21s defender Di’Shon Bernard are expected to go out on loan during the January transfer window, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Mengi, who was handed his Champions League debut by Rangnick this time last year, joined Birmingham City on loan in January, but after being a regular for the Blues his season was brought to an end due to injury.
The 20-year-old, who has played twice for the United first team, faces a tall order establishing himself in United’s first team given the volume of centre-back options Ten Hag has at his disposal.
But despite the different challenges both him and Elanga face at Old Trafford, the Swede has posted a defiant message on behalf of the pair.
Responding to Mengi’s Instagram post, which was a picture of the pair, Elanga defiantly wrote: “We’re not giving up”.
Mengi will be hoping to get his minutes under the former Ajax manager in Spain before likely heading out on loan in the new year, while Elanga could do with a confidence-boosting goal against the La Liga sides.
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