Bruno Fernandes fired a dramatic injury-time winner at Old Trafford to sink Rangers and push Manchester United to the brink of automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16.
A 2-1 victory in the Battle of Britain tie lifted United into fourth place in the table and means a point against FCSB in Bucharest next week should be enough to clinch a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged play-off.
It also brought much-needed relief for head coach Ruben Amorim following his emotional reaction to Sunday’s defeat to Brighton when he labelled his team perhaps the worst in United’s history.
‘It was a victory that we truly needed in this moment,’ Amorim admitted after United recovered from conceding an equaliser in the 88th minute to win.
‘We started well but lost control for seven minutes. Even when we suffered the goal from Rangers, they recovered. We are not playing our best – we are far from that – but we improved from the last game.
‘It is important (to qualify automatically) because it is two weeks free to prepare for the Premier League.’
Ruben Amorim cut a relieved figure after Manchester United’s late escape against Rangers
United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up late on to score a dramatic Europa League winner
United captain Fernandes struck in the 92nd minute after Cyriel Dessers cancelled out an own-goal by Rangers keeper Jack Butland.
‘We want to get to the final in Bilbao,’ said Fernandes. ‘We want to get top-eight so we don’t have to play two more games.
‘At this club, you need to win every game. You know that if you don’t win games here, it will be difficult. I hope our fans never get used to losing games. I hope they believe in this team to win games.’
United will launch an investigation after a number of Rangers fans were able to get tickets in areas of Old Trafford designated for home supporters, and have promised the ‘strongest possible sanctions’ for any registered ticket holders who might have helped sell them on.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund could yet offer Marcus Rashford an unlikely escape route if United are prepared to lower their demands and pay more of the unsettled star’s £350,000-a-week wages while he is on loan. Rashford watched Thursday’s game from a box in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.
