SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S fellow knight, Dave Brailsford, is well-versed in marginal gains. This was as marginal as it comes.

Indeed, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side secured a spot in the last 16 after what ultimately became a routine victory in Bucharest.

Kobbie Mainoo celebrates doubling United’s leadCredit: Getty

Diogo Dalot arrived to slot the 60th-minute openerCredit: AP

Dalot enjoys giving the Red Devils lift-offCredit: Rex

Mainoo drilled Man Utd 2-0 up on 68 minutesCredit: Every Second Media

That avoids a tricky two-legged play-off and crucially gives the Portuguese boss more time on the training ground to push through his ideas.

Yet ironically, although United are the only club still unbeaten in either the Europa League or Champions League this season, victory in Romania could mean they face stiffer opposition next.

The Red Devils will now face one team out of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar and Midtjylland.

In contrast, it would have been FCSB, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK – had United not won.

But at least, thanks to Diogo Dalot’s opener and a sensational second from Kobbie Mainoo inside nine second-half minutes, United ARE now moving forward.

Once upon a time the small achievement of avoiding a play-off to reach the knockout stages of Europe’s second tier tournament would have been no big deal.

But this very much was for the Old Trafford boss and the Ineos hierarchy part-owner Ratcliffe and his No 2 Brailsford.

But up until that dynamic double, Amorim’s team only underlined how much work he still has to do, no matter that it was a third successive victory for the first time this season.

 

The club are still working on bringing in Lecce wing back Patrick Dorgu with a deal not expected to go through for at least another 24 hours.

But a striker who actually scores goals has to be the priority this summer although at least Dalot’s strike calmed prompted a decent finale.

Yet United, for all  Amorim’s “worst-ever” woes, without a Prem title in what will be a dozen seasons, still have attraction, especially in the outlands of Europe.

This clash took place in Romania’s National Stadium, capacity 55,000 and well packed out as opposed to their opponents’ own Ghencea Stadium which holds that number and where they place less high-profile games.

Not that Amorim’s white-clad side bear any resemblance to the glory days of old — too many of them really only plodders and sometimes even plonkers. They could have been behind within 11 minutes, too.

Amorim had his coaches working with the team for 20 minutes on set– pieces but when three opponents thundered forward in a line to meet a free kick the defensive reaction was zero.

Mihai Popescu met the ball less than ten yards out but from a great, central position somehow managed to squeeze his shot wide.

The whole FCSB squad cost a total of £32million and earlier in the competition lost 4-0 to Rangers in Glasgow. Amorim’s starting line–up alone was worth £267.5m yet that Mainoo miss apart, they found themselves anxious and being dictated to.

The only attacker to thrive since the Portuguese replaced Erik ten Hag — Amad Diallo — was on the bench along with the physical presences of Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire.

The side were surely well aware of how important this clash was but there was only hesitancy and often indecision as opposed to a set of players trying to beat a team lying second in one of the least powerful leagues on the continent.

 

Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim looked on anxiouslyCredit: AP

Rasmus Hojlund nodded a Lisandro Martinez cross straight at the keeperCredit: Getty

And in the 30th minute another fine opportunity — and another effort that spoke volumes of a lack of cold –eyed determination.

This time it fell to Hojlund and he barely made Stefan Tarnovanu blink.

Lisandro Martinez picked out the striker with a peach of a chip, straight onto his head. The result was weak, straight at the keeper who grabbed it with ease.

Once again we were watching a desperate Dane who cost £64m and has only  scored in FIVE of his 29 appearances this season.

Everybody knows that Amorim will not give Marcus Rashford a sniff.

Hojlund is not the only struggling striker as £36.5m summer arrival Joshua Zirkzee has only scored in three of his last 34 appearances this season, so no wonder the United boss left him on the bench again.

The Portuguese may secretly be hoping that the lost boy of Old Trafford finds his way out of Manchester this transfer window.

Yet United should have been ahead just over a minute after the break after a defensive blunder left Alejandro Garnacho  clear.

He had only just replaced Toby Collyer and suddenly found himself with a gift but his shot clipped the outside of a post.

Dalot did a whole lot better after Bruno Fernandes whipped in a screamer that struck  the bar.

United reacted quickest and Mainoo, so quiet and ineffectual for the previous 59 minutes, delivered a cross that the Portuguse defender connected with.

Suddenly the nerves and tension were gone and eight minutes later Mainoo produced a  killer blow.

He won the ball 30 yards out, fired it towards Garnacho then kept going to meet the return and side-footed stylishly into the net.

Kobbie Mainoo should have scored for Man Utd in the first halfCredit: EPA

FCSB coach Elias Charalambous went through a range of emotionsC