Manchester United starlet Anthony Elanga hailed Ralf Rangnick for "rewarding" him with first-team opportunities after he opened the scoring against Brentford on Wednesday night.
The forward, 19, set United on course for a 3-1 victory early in the second half with a deft touch and header beyond Bees goalkeeper Jonas Lossl following a fine pass from Fred.
Elanga was making just his sixth Premier League appearance as former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not use him in the competition this season prior to his sacking in November.
But Rangnick, appointed Solskjaer's successor on an interim basis, brought the teenager on as a substitute in his first game in charge and has clearly been won over, starting him in the last two games ahead of many more-experienced teammates.
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Elanga claims his recent run in the starting XI is the product of his tireless displays at the club's Carrington training ground, and thanked his manager for his faith in him.
"I appreciate the boss so much, he can see in training, the intensity, how much I’m running," the Sweden Under-21 international told BT Sport after the match.
"If you put the work in in training you’ll get rewards in games, that’s what I try and do every day, train the way I want to play."
Elanga left Malmo in his homeland to join United as a 12-year-old in 2014, and he earned his senior competitive debut in March 2021.
The youngster believes his goal at the Brentford Community Stadium "lifted" his teammates after a challenging first half during which they had David de Gea to thank for keeping the game scoreless.
Mason Greenwood doubled the advantage just after the hour mark and Marcus Rashford put the game to bed in the 77th minute before Ivan Toney grabbed a late consolation goal for the hosts.
"The second half was when we played our best football," Elanga said. "The goal that I scored, I think that lifted the team up and got the team going.
"Then the second goal came and the third goal game. It just got even better."
Elanga also paid tribute to fellow goalscorer Greenwood, adding: "I've known Mason for a long, long time. I played with him in the academy, so it's obviously a pleasure to play with him on this stage.
"To play with a great player like Ronaldo, it's just an honour. You've just got to enjoy it every single time and every day in training."
Elanga will hope to keep his spot in the starting XI as the Red Devils host West Ham on Saturday.
