Dimitar Berbatov sends warning to Anthony Elanga over keeping first-team role

Dimitar Berbatov has warned Anthony Elanga not to ‘betray’ the trust placed him in him by Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick.

Elanga was United’s Champions League hero after coming off the bench to score a crucial equaliser against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The Swede has now scored three times since breaking into the side at the start of the year with Rangnick hailing him a ‘role model’ the rest of the squad should be following.

Elanga has scored off the bench in his last two games but Berbatov believes it is only a matter of time before he is in the starting XI on a regular basis.

Believing there is a ‘special bond’ between Elanga and Rangnick, the former United striker has urged him to keep working to ensure he remains firmly in the manager’s plans.

‘Anthony Elanga is starting to make a crucial contribution for United, with goals against Atletico and Leeds in the past few days, and he could have a great future at the club,’ Berbatov wrote in his Betfair blog.

‘His goal against Atletico was hugely important and beautifully executed.

‘Credit to Rangnick for the way he’s introducing Elanga from the bench and to the player for the way he is taking his chances.

‘With United missing Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial, there could be opportunities to start Elanga. He is growing up quickly, although he still has a lot of maturing to do on the pitch. But I won’t be surprised if he’s soon starting for United.

‘It happened at United a few years ago when Louis van Gaal gave Marcus Rashford his chance. Rashford seized his opportunity and Elanga is doing the same.

‘He needs to keep working hard though. You never want to betray the trust of a manager who believes in you.’

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