FCSB vs Manchester United LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as Dalot and Mainoo goals secure win
FCSB 0-2 Man Utd: Ruben Amorim’s men booked their place in the last-16 with a fine outing in Romania
Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League last-16 with a competent if unspectacular performance away at FCSB.
Ruben Amorim’s side controlled the game from the very start and dominated possession in the first half though they found it difficult to break through the hosts’ defences. FCSB actually came closest to opening the scoring as Mihai Popescu met a free kick and poked the ball just wide of the target.
United, however, lacked tempo and pace but with a firm grip on the game Amorim made changes at half-time and brought on pacey wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo.
The deadlock came from a quick throw in from Amad who found Christian Eriksen. The Dane slipped Kobbie Mainoo into the box and he squared to Diogo Dalot for a tap in. Garnacho then had his say in the second goal. He bombed forward on the left, received the ball from Mainoo then sent it back to the midfielder who side-footed home.
It’s three wins from three now for Man Utd and their Europa League campaign is going swimmingly.
Relive the updates from the National Arena in Bucharest in our live blog below:
Manchester United’s unspectacular Europa League victory reveals slow progress made under Ruben Amorim
A calming victory in Europe, that steers Manchester United through to the Europa League last 16 in third place. Crisis? What crisis?
Ruben Amorim certainly needed to experience this. His initiation to life in Manchester has, the man himself admits, left him feeling, and looking, 10 years older than he is.
Catastrophes on the continent, with two-goal leads against mediocre opposition thrown away with alarming regularity, played a major role in Erik ten Hag’s downfall.
Man Utd’s unspectacular Europa League win reveals slow progress made under Amorim
More from Amorim:
"Of course, Garnacho has a different pace and is more like a winger. Amad is really good one-v-one and he can push players to open more space. It was good work from everybody.
"We want to improve a lot with the way we play. We want to play closer than today, but we need to play like this.
"We have to adapt to improve the team.
"We have to recover the players. We are going to sleep here and to recover in the morning."
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports:
"We had more possession, we have to understand the opponent. With all due respect it's not the same level as the Premier League.
"We had more time to connect the plays and I think Kobbie Mainoo in that position played very well. He had more freedom with not much responsibility running back all the time.
"The lads did a good job - clean sheet again, but we have to score more goals.
"Today we had the opportunity, but in the end we had some rotation."
Start them young
Mainoo also became the 58th teenager to start a major European match for Manchester United, the most of any English club.
Man Utd's star boy
Kobbie Mainoo became the first player to score and assist a goal on his first major European start for Manchester United since Wayne Rooney in September 2004 against Fenerbahce.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim:
"That is really important for us to have time to train and have the connection between everybody - even the staff.
"In training we go to the pitch and get to know each other in the right environment.
"It is really important and then you can have one week to prepare again.
"Beginning of the week you can work your ideas and then have time to focus on the opponent.
"I can understand my players better. I put Kobbie Mainoo in that position, we need time to understand the players as he was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder.
"As a 10 he was so free playing the ball near the box.
"We need time to work with the players to understand what the best position is for them."
The winning streak goes on
Manchester United have won three consecutive wins in all competitions for the first time this season.
Unbeaten United
Manchester United head into the knockout rounds as the only team to remain unbeaten in the league phase.
Ruben Amorim’s men finished third in the table and will have a strong chance and winning this trophy as the competitions goes on.
Who could Manchester United draw in Europa League last-16?
Manchester United are safely through to the knockout rounds of the Europa League despite a turbulent campaign so far.
United did not win any of their first three games under Erik ten Hag, before interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim steadied the ship.
Though United still left it late to defeat Viktoria Plzen and Rangers, a final victory over FCSB secured their place in the top-eight.
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