The Belgian headed home a third in injury time as Manchester United beat Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, with Memphis Depay earlier scoring twice
Louis van Gaal hailed Marouane Fellaini 's late strike as the crucial goal as Manchester United secured a 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Fellaini rose to meet a long diagonal ball from Memphis Depay in stoppage time at Old Trafford, the midfielder nodding past Sebastien Bruzzese to secure a two-goal cushion.
The Belgian's strike came after Memphis had scored his first two goals for his new side, the 21-year-old netting both in the first half with two impressive finishes to cancel out Michael Carrick's own goal.
Van Gaal was delighted to have secured a first-leg victory in the play-off round, and believes Fellaini's impact will be crucial in their hopes of reaching the group stages.
"It makes a difference because 2-1 is a very difficult result," he told BT Sport . "We deserved much more because we created a lot of chances.
"It is what I am always saying, you have to be effective. We have a lot of chances and only three goals.
"I am happy because of the last goal. We have practised that before when we need Fellaini, we put him in the penalty area because he has that quality."
Man-of-the-match Memphis also earned praise from his manager, who predicts his summer signing to go from strength to strength after starring on his Champions League debut for United.
Van Gaal added: "I am very happy for Memphis because a player needs that. I said it was a matter of time and he shall continue. He is 21 and he has only played two seasons for PSV. I have confidence in him."
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