Football Daily - In Focus with Dion Dublin & Anthony Elanga

Episode Date: April 12, 2025

Anthony Elanga chats to Dion Dublin about life at Nottingham Forest, working under Nuno Espirito Santo and the secret to Forest's consistency.He also discusses moving to England at 11, his development at Manchester United and his hopes of playing in the Champions League with Forest.Topics: 00:15 - Early years in Malmo 02:41 - Moving to England at 11and signing for Manchester United 06:36 - Moving to Nottingham Forest and personal development 10:15 - Working under Nuno Espirito Santo 12:09 - The City Ground is "the best atmosphere I've played in" 13:32 - His goal against Manchester United 16:56 - The secret to Forest's consistency 19:22 - Dressing room camaraderie 20:41 - Playing in the Champions League 21:23 - Hopes for the rest of the seasonBBC Sounds / 5 Live Premier League commentaries this weekend: Sat 1500 Nottingham Forest v Everton Sat 1730 Arsenal v Brentford Sun 1400 Liverpool v West Ham Sun 1400 Chelsea v Ipswich on 5 Sports Extra Sun 1400 Wolves v Tottenham on the BBC Sport website Sun 1630 Newcastle v Man Utd

BBC Sounds music radio podcast The Football Daily Podcast Listen on BBC Sounds Ok, let's start at the very beginning. Let's talk about you, where you came from, where you were born, brothers, sisters, mum, dad. Tell me a bit about that, because nobody knows. Yeah, so I was born in Malmo, Sweden. OK. To a footballer family, to be honest. My dad used to play football. So from the very beginning, he kind of laid the foundations

to me on what it takes to become a professional footballer. Really? Or what to do, the ins and outs, the positives, the negatives, the things you're going to encounter when you grow up. Well not just that, but I had my big sister, in my opinion, had the potential to be better than me. Really? Yeah, she was really good at football, she was really, really good.

At what position? She was a striker. Oh, so you've got some competition-ish! Yeah, she was a striker, she was so you've got some competition-ish! Yeah, she was a striker. She was a striker. No, she was amazing. Obviously, injury's took a toll. OK. But she was amazing.

My little sister wanted to start playing football as well. My mum played football. Did she? So this is what I'm saying, football and family. It was a really footballing family. So played in Sweden for a team called Ellsborg. Okay. And the academy was there from under-8 to under-10s.

And then when I was 11, moved to England. So young as well. So young, yeah. So how was the transition, not just football wise, but life, family? Culture wise in Sweden it's different to England. It's a lot different to England. I feel like the opportunities here in England is huge. I'm not saying it's not a lot of opportunities in Sweden,

but I'm just saying coming to England, that's one of the decisions my mum had to make. Coming here, not just for me, but for my sisters as well, different opportunities school-wise, education. Oh I see, just life in general. Life in general, different opportunities school-wise. Oh I see, just life in general. Life in general, different sports. I think here you've got fantastic opportunities. And that's why you see a lot of young players

in Sweden make that decision to travel abroad and try different things. And my mum took a big risk, but it's a risk that's paying off. It's not a bad risk to be fair. It's paying off and honestly I appreciate my parents so much because like I said they set the foundations for me. They've created me and they made me the person that I am today.

Yeah of course, of course. Of course I'm not a finished product yet, I can continue to improve in everything that I do but I owe them everything honestly. So you came here when you were 11. Yes. The whole family? Yes. Mum and family? Yes. Mum and Dad found jobs?

No, my Dad's still in Sweden. My Dad's still in Sweden. But I've got my Mum and my sister's here. So they're enjoying it. My sister's still in school, final year. She's the smartest one in the family. So I've got to look after her. She's smarter than you, pal.

Yeah, she's so smart. She's so smart, so I've got to look after her. My big sister is doing really well for herself as well. Like I say, we're a footballing family but we're really smart as well. So you've got the education within the family, you've got the brains as well, you're the one that actually made it even though your family were good as well. United, let's just reflect on United as you were there for some years as well.

How did you find it? Was it good for you? Did it work for you? I started off, came to the academy when I was on the 12th. So young isn't it? Lee Yolmsworth, an amazing coach, I still remember the names. Tony Whelan and Dave Bushel, they all set the foundation for me as well. For example, speaking to Tony when you speak to someone, look them in the eyes, shake their hands, shake their family. Correct, absolutely.

They're the foundations you start off from young. Many, many more coaches that I've learned from who I still speak to to this day, Colin Little, he still speaks to me. He was honestly an amazing strikers coach. A strikers dream to work with. He actually texted me the other day when we played United and said these are the types of things we used to work on. Left foot, right foot. Being able to go both ways and make yourself a danger. Make sure you're a threat in every area. Player wise as well. Played with different players. Some of the best. Some of the best. Jimmy Garners, Angel Gomez, Alton Lille, Ted Umengi, Lute and right now. So I played with really, really Different players. Some of the best, some of the best. Jimmy Garners, Angel Gomez, Alton Lille, Ted Umengi,

Lute and right now. So I played with really, really good players. And that's who I still keep in contact with to this day. So like I say, knowing those people that helped me to become the man that I am today, I'm really, really appreciative of it. And I feel like I had a really good time at United. Good grounding, eh?

Honestly, yeah, I started from young. They started from young and it shapes you to become the man and the player you are today. It does. And I suppose when you have that kind of, I don't know, that kind of statue of football club around you, everything's done right, coaching's done right, they're coaching you to be a better player, whether it's a wing or four, whatever it may be,

they're looking for you, they're looking for the right character as well. So they must have known there was something there, they tried to extract it from you. And now you've turned, from my opinion on the outside looking in, you've kind of gone, you've kind of changed as a player, you know? Your end product, your mentality is so strong. I try to, I feel like the mentality I've had, I've always had it from young, like I say, my dad and my mum instilled in me from from very young the discipline and it doesn't have to just be football, it goes in general work for everyone. It's about staying consistent with what I do and I think I had that from young and working in United day in day out with the best of

the best, best coaches, learning day in day out, picking things out and trying to form it to my own. I think that was really important and I'm not finished. I'm not finished. You're still improving every single area and everything. I'm still really young. So but it's it's more or less I had to come into England, I had to mature quick. I didn't know the language.

I didn't speak the language. Did you not? Didn't speak any English. I bet you can't tell now that we're speaking. No, absolutely not. Couldn't speak the language. Did you not? Didn't speak any English. I bet you can't tell now that we're speaking. No, absolutely not. Couldn't speak any English, so I had to adapt really quick. And that's why I think I've matured from young.

I've always been mature now and like I say, for me it was difficult coming here because of the language. But now... But it's brave, isn't it? From your family, it's brave to do that. It's brave to make the decision to come to this country and then you go to United, you do well at United and then you play for the first team and you do everything you need to do there.

And then this happens. You end up coming to this city, you know, which I don't know, for me on the outside looking in it's like you've just got, it's like handling glove. It's amazing to be here, you know, and like I say, I was at United and I really enjoyed my time there, which things could have gone a bit differently than it did. It's a big institution and obviously I think for my part, it's about momentum. Mmm. I think for every player, it's about momentum.

The more you play, the more you improve, the more you get better. Like you say, I'm playing well, yes, but I'm not a finished product and I can always improve, but coming here, it's been amazing. I've enjoyed every single moment of it and what we're doing this season, it's amazing. Nottingham Forest is an historical club with loads of Champions Leagues, two Champions Leagues, so we talk about greatness. Nottingham Forest is an historical club with loads of Champions Leagues, two Champions Leagues. We talk about greatness, we want to be a team that want to achieve greatness, but we know we've got to be precise with it.

I always got this saying, precise, not rushed. I like that, I like that, I like that! Moments are temporary, but greatness is forever. I think we've got a bunch of lads that really want to chase greatness, and long may that continue because we've done fantastically so far. So tell me the saying again, precise? So it's a French saying, précis, pas pressé, which is my saying, translates to precise, not rushed, which is something I've been used to my whole life

and I've been precise with everything that I do. And you could say that for this amazing Nottingham Forest team that we've got, we're precise with what we want to do, and I can say moments are temporary, greatness is forever. I like it, I might use that you know. Can I use it? Am I allowed to use that? Of course you can, of course. I can see that though, that kind of works with the stuff you do away from, even away from like training with your team, you're doing stuff on your own. I mean, I've seen some of the stuff you do, the power stuff, the pro perception, all that kind of stuff.

I'm thinking, how's he done that? It's all quick, it's all powerful. Is this something you do? Is it what you choose to do? So I've got my own coach, Tom Joyce, and I've been working with him for a good four years now. You know, it's about, I always said the best investment you can do is in yourself and your body.

Because it's your body, it's yourself that's going to get you to where you want to go. The only person that's going to stop you is yourself. So why not invest in yourself, the most of yourself, maximise everything that you can do and try and make sure you're the best shape, best form, always fit, always available. Availability is the best ability. Ah, he's got another one! He just fell in another one! You're available for the team, make sure you're strong and sharp. It's a lot of games, the Premier League is intense,

and like I say, if you want to make it to the Champions League, there's going to be even more games. So if you start from young, I feel like you're setting yourself an edge up. Good standards. That's something I learnt a lot from Cristiano Ronaldo. The way he used to act on the pitch and off the pitch, try and take things, transform it to your own. I learned a lot from Cristiano Ronaldo. The way he used to act on the pitch and off the pitch. Trying to take things from his book.

Has there been players then in England, not just United, at Forest where you've taken bits from? I know Cristiano, you can take anything when it's going to be good. I've taken bits from everyone. I can say United, there's Baranda, there's Bruno there. Even here at the club, you look at experienced players players like Willy, like Ibra, even Ola, Ola's 28 and he's been in a lot of places, you try and look at where they've been, what they've experienced, highs and lows, you know speaking to them, get some advice

from them and you know because I'm still 22 you know so there's gonna be highs and lows but how about how you deal with it, for me I want to get too low, but I never want to get too high. I also want to maintain that level, and just stay in presence in the present and focus on what I can do. Absolutely. It's showing, and I would imagine that Forrest fans out there are shouting at the screen saying, ask him about the dressing room, ask him about the boards,

ask him about the connection with all your friends. Do you know what I mean? Because it just seems to work. You work so well, you've got so many partnerships. What's the manager done to make it work so well? Do you think? The manager is fantastic. His management is second to none.

The fact that he can speak so many languages already helps the team in itself. We've got the Zumba boys, the Brazilian lads. We've got Ola, I'm sure you guys know who Ola is. We don't know, get to know. Caleb, Morgan, all the lads, we're all together. And I think that showing on the pitch, that camaraderie, that togetherness is so important.

How's he created it? Honestly, for me, if I'm gonna be honest, he started in pre-season. He came quite later on where we were struggling at the time. But for him to have a proper pre-season with all the players, even the new players coming in early on, getting to know and him laying down the foundations on the way he wants to play this season,

I think that really helped the team. And it's been showing the way we are on the pitch. I think we've got one of the best defences in the league. And we're really clinical up front as well, in Chris Woods. So I think he's all adding up and he started pre-season and Nuno's been fantastic, honestly. He's got management. How's he like on the training ground?

Is he different to the training ground from away from the training ground? Does he have two different personalities or is he quite strict? The way you see Nuno when he gives interviews is the way he is. He's always demanding more of each and every single player because he believes in us and we believe in him. When you have that two working together, you become unstoppable. You always want to fight for him, you want to fight for this team. Not just the team, but we've got the fans, that 12th man who help us so much. They're noisy!

They're noisy. City ground, playing in the city ground, for me the best atmosphere that I've played in is unbelievable, honestly it's unbelievable. I'm thriving on it, I get goose bumps every time I step out to the pitch because it's like, yeah, we know they've got our back, we can be 1 nil down, but we know with them supporting us, we can come back. Absolutely, I mean I've played against Forrest teams in that state and it is quite intimidating. It is intimidating. You don't want to go and get the ball because the fans are quite close to taking throw-ins,

you know what I mean? So we're still in clear. And I understand that they're that noisy, and when you hear that noise as a player Oh man You respond don't you? Yeah it gives you that extra boost and for me like I say I'm smiling talking about it but I can't keep running on that, there are 12 man The Premier League review on the Football Daily I'm Darren Fletcher and don't miss the Premier League review on the Football Daily every Sunday as we look back at all the action from the weekend from expert

analysis they need to compete that's your responsibility so should we start questioning you as a manager then to the biggest debates is a free agent at the end of the year clubs can contact him who knows what's arrived in the inbox the Premier League review only on The Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. Right, listen, I've avoided it for this long. I can't avoid it any longer. Let's talk about your goal.

That was crazy. To travel that far, that quickly, under control, with two players chasing you, fobbing one off like he wasn't there and then having two players in front of you the defenders as well. What was going through your mind? Just explain to the fans how you did it because it's not easy to do that. It's not easy. I think a lot of people think you're just running in a straight line but you're not actually running in a straight line.

No, of course. You have to weave past players and you have to dribble with the ball at that speed and then at the end having composure at the end to slow it in. So obviously he came from a corner, a United corner, I think Yeats got an assist for it. Did he get an assist? Just nudged it for you. He told me at the end of the game, you know what, I got an assist for you. I was like, oh fair play, that's a great assist.

Obviously, getting a ball, my first thought is to attack. Go for it. That's what we're really good at in a team and that's what we have been doing this season. So my first thought was to just go for it. And I know I've got the capabilities to dribble with both feet. Did you know, was it in your mind? Because you didn't have any players either side of you, so... Oh, bless Morgan, Morgan, team.

He was running, he was running. I didn't think he was going to keep up with everyone. I'm watching the replay, I'm like, oh, right, fair play, fair play. I think, well, he knew that when I got in that area, there's no way I'm passing, you know. It's hard to explain that goal because it's like, unless you're doing it, it's not really easy to explain. Of course you can see, but it actually takes a toll on your legs as well.

It does, and mentally you've got to think about where you place the ball because you've got players either side of you. Even now, I'm thinking, is Anthony left-footed or is he right-footed? You know what, because you're so confident with both, and you've scored goals with both, you can go either way as well, which is a rare thing today for an old class player who has a good old-fashioned wing that just attacks, goes forward. For me, I think it's important to be able to go both ways.

During lockdown, I trained a lot on my left foot, trained for eight months just on my left foot. Did you really? Because he's hitting the wall, left foot, left foot, left foot, left foot, left foot. Not a lot of people know that, but just my close people know that. Yeah. I think it's important for me to be able to work with both feet. Yes. Like I say, at lockdown, I took a lot of time to work with myself mentally and work

with myself on my left foot, right foot, everything. And you fast forward a year after, I'm making my debut for United. I'm doing loads of different things. Yeah, being able to go both ways is important. You want to be a threat. I want to be able to play left wing, right wing, striker. And if you can play in all those positions, you know what I mean, you're tick tick tick and I always use a reference of Thierry Henry, I think he was really good at

that playing left wing, right wing, up front striker. I want to be able to have different, add different traits to my game and be an unpredictable player. Yeah, which you are, again, I'm not a Forest fan, but I've watched a lot of you play. How has this Forest side got to where they are now? I'd say... How have you been so good and how have you been so consistent? What's it been down to? Listening to what the manager has been telling us to do the whole season, like I say, he started in pre-season, he laid his foundations down, and it was up to us to first and foremost listen to what he says,

but also get that togetherness. I think we always had that togetherness last season, but we were just unfortunate with the results and things like that. But this season, it's just started to click, and once it starts clicking, I'm sure you know, once it starts clicking, it's hard to stop. Yeah, I think that's been really key for us this season. And the players and the mindset of the players,

does it ever trickle into your mind that this could be special this season? Do you ever think about it? Do you talk about it behind closed doors? Like I say, you remember this, we're playing for a special team with loads of history, you know, and having John McGovern in the building now, every day reminding us what he's won.

All the lads speak to him, asking for advice on how we used to be playing for this club. We know how special it is to play for this club. All the players know that if we continue to chase greatness and be precise with it, there are not many games left, but if we're precise with the greatness and we know we can achieve huge things for this club, I believe in this team, I believe in this city. It's an amazing city to live in and I think that's taken a toll on us as players.

We want to give something back to this city. Absolutely. You know what I mean? The two stars are there. That's the pressure. You see the pressure thing. I think pressure is being able to perform week in week out. I mean, it said something in this interview about some players not being able to play for United because of the pressure. But I think pressure is being able to play week

in week out in the Prem. Pressure is is like for me coming as a young lad from Sweden not speaking a language, having to mature straight away at the age of 11, I think that's pressure. Right now I'm enjoying it, I'm enjoying life, I'm enjoying my football, but that's not to say I wasn't enjoying it before, I was enjoying it before. Voice about the momentum as well. Correct, you're excelling at the moment aren't you? Excelling and right now we've got a good institution coming into Forest. You knew what they wanted to create here at the club. And like I say, it's organised and for

me that's what sucked me right in. And what we're doing this season has been paying off. It is paying off. Just tell us a quick one about the dressing room. What's it like in the dressing room? Who's it like in the dressing room? Who's bouncing about? We see a lot of you on social media but... Ola, Ola, Ola, Ola, you know Ola. I'm sure you guys have seen more of your posts on social media. That's exactly how it is. But we've got the, I can say we've got the Zamba boys as well. And because I can speak Spanish as well, I interact with them, I do my little dance with them as well. We've got Ryan Yates, the skipper, the leader of the team, you know,

he's come through the ranks, and you can say that they've come through the ranks to get the team to the semi-final of the FA Cup, third in the Premier League so far. I mean, he's an amazing guy, you know. Barista, he's got secret talent as well. Yeah, has he? I don't really drink coffee like that, but like, yeah, he can... I never knew that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's a top guy, an amazing captain.

Someone you want in your team, he'll fight for you. Defensively, you've been incredibly strong. You've got to give it to defence, honestly. The whole team in defence has been amazing. I can go through all of them, but they've all been amazing. And I think from the goalkeeper, it starts from the goalkeeper. Matt has been top, not just Matt, but Carlos as well. When Carlos has been needed, he's been doing a good job.

And then that just, when the goalkeeper is on form like that, that just sends the message to the rest of the team, like you say, listen, I've got you guys. So regarding Champions League then, you've been in and around it before, you know, you've scored in it, you know what it's like. you know what it feels like to be in and around it. You've got the potential to do that here as well with this group. That's something I speak to the lads now and then, you know, to remind them that it's not just me but Callum's played in it, there's other players that have played in it, so it's a special competition, it's a competition that everyone wants to be a part of. I had the opportunity to play three times so far and I scored in it.

Scored against a player from Madrid, I think, a really good team. So I tried and I was really young at that time as well, so now I've matured even more. So to be able to play in that competition now will feel even more special. To do with this team, that would be amazing, man. OK, so the season's not bad, is it? Third, Champions League, potentially, you know, I think you're more or less there because of the way you've been playing and I think you'll continue to be consistent. And you've changed the feeling in the stadium, a new batch of Forrest fans are coming through the door and they're absolutely loving it.

You know, you look at this, it's got two stars in there. It's the history of this football team. We as lads, we want to be part of the new history, we want to create new history. We want to chase that greatness. That's something I keep on eluding on, because it is true. It's a new generation, the old generation has seen it, they've seen it all, and for us now to come through and hopefully get there as well. I'm not saying we're going to get there and win it all, but we want to come through and hopefully get there as well.

I'm not saying we're going to get there and win it all, but we want to have that same feeling that we had. You're in and around it, Antony. We'll be in and around it, third in the Premier League, you know. Just keep going, keep taking it. You're that close! To get where you are right now, to be in the mix of where Nottingham Firestore are right now, is a huge achievement anyway. From me watching football for years and years.

It could be done. Is that the mentality in the dressing room? The mentality we have in the dressing room is to take it game by game and be precise to the end of the season. Like you say, try and win as many games as we can. Of course, we've got a fantastic opportunity in the FA Cup as well, so it's going really well and everyone's really happy, everyone's really enjoying it and that's down to, like I say, our 12th man, our fans. We love them, we see them, we hear them. I don't know if you've seen recently, we did a manager of the month with Nuno and brought the fans with us and take the picture. I think that was really sweet and I think to summarise what we're about as a football team, as a city, hopefully we can bring some great things to the city.

That's great isn't it? I spoke to Morgz a few months back and he was saying how the dressing room, he said the kids, he said the kids are in charge in the dressing room, which is you know yourself and people like that that are just keeping the dressing room alive. That's so important as well for you guys. I know you're young in age but you're quite experienced with what you've achieved. You look at the lads of colour, Morgan, they've all been around for a long time. So yes, we might be young in age but we're maturing in the way we portray ourselves on and off the pitch and it's good to have the mixture of old and young and the fact that we're maturing in the way we portray ourselves on and off the pitch and it's good to have the mixture of old and young and

the fact that we're all in the same one same wavelength that makes us a really really good team. Absolutely. Well listen, I've loved watching you play as a team, but as an individual I'd like to say well done. Don't change the way you play because you're great to watch and I just think you're great from the start. Good luck man. Appreciate it. Wish you all the best. Thank you. Take care. Cheers. Great to watch and I just think you'll go for the strength. Good luck, man. Appreciate it. Wish you all the best. Thank you.

Take care. Cheers.