The Reds beat Young Boys 1-0 thanks to the Belgian just as Jose Mourinho's men were fearing a last Group H match visit to Spain to face Valencia in a shoot-out decider. With Juventus beating the Spaniards in Turin, United were running out of time to avoid that December tense climax, before Fellaini struck in front of the Stretford End.
Mourinho implored his side in his pre-match press conference to be “proactive” rather than reactive and he assembled a freshened up XI and ‘fast” personnel to deliver. His side responded to the message and the manager’s animated encouragement from the off on the bench.