Ralf Rangnick convinced Anthony Elanga not to leave Manchester United on loan after first training session

Ralf Rangnick has called on Manchester United’s underperforming stars to use Anthony Elanga as an example to follow after the young winger’s heroics in the Champions League.

United delivered another uninspiring performance for the most part in their last-16 first-leg tie against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Spain on Wednesday night, deservedly trailing as a result of Joao Felix’s early header.

However, they managed to level the tie and take a useful 1-1 draw back to Old Trafford for the second leg on March 15 courtesy of Elanga, who came on for the subdued Marcus Rashford to net with his very first touch 10 minutes from time.

It was another huge highlight in the young career of United’s popular academy graduate, who has impressed with his senior performances this season and also put the seal on a thrilling 4-2 win over fierce rivals Leeds in the Premier League at Elland Road on Sunday.

And interim boss Rangnick evidently wishes more of his players would follow the Swedish teenager’s lead when it comes to expressing themselves on the pitch.

"He is playing as if a dream comes true, it is just joy and fun to watch him play and I wish a few other players would take him as a role model," Rangnick told BT Sport.

"He is enjoying himself on the pitch and that it is what is all about. This is what I would wish in the future when we play them in a couple of weeks."

Waxing lyrical about Elanga - now United’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League knockout stages - again in his post-match press conference in Madrid, Rangnick said: “Anthony, in all the games that he has played so far, just shows that he’s playing with all the passion, all the fun and all the joy.

“He’s just enjoying himself on the