Ralf Rangnick urged Anthony Elanga to "frighten the defenders" before scoring a late equalizer at Atletico Madrid.
Manchester United's star came off the bench with 15 minutes remaining to cancel out Joao Felix's opener in Madrid.
Prior to Elanga's effort, United had failed to register a single shot on goal as Atletico dominated for long stretches.
Rangnick has continued to give the teenager chances, and his strike has repaid that faith.
Bruno Fernandes let him through, giving him the opportunity to fire across Jan Oblak and into the far corner.
"He (Rangnick) said to me, do what I always do, make the defenders scared, run in," Elanga said after the game, and when I get an opportunity, take it.”
Following the stalemate in Madrid, the goal means that it will be winner take all at Old Trafford in three weeks.
United's only chance for silverware this season remains the Champions League, though they are not expected to advance far in the competition.
Elanga is one of several academy products in the Red Devils' first team who have aspired to make a name for themselves on the European stage.
"I've always wanted to score in the Champions League," he added.
"It's only the first half, and the second half is in a couple of weeks at Old Trafford, so we have to be ready for that."
Elanga is up against stiff competition when it comes to accumulating minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Marucs Rashford both started at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Elanga replacing the latter in the second half.
The adolescent admitted that his team wasn't performing well, but he was determined to make a difference.
"When I get an opportunity for the club, I just want to repay the manager's favor and leave nothing in the tank and give 150 percent every time I step on that pitch," he continued.
When I'm on the pitch, I just do what I can. "I always tell myself that I'm going to be the best player on the field and leave as the best player on the field." Clearly, we did not play the best football in the first half, and then in the second half with the substitutions that we made, we stepped up a bit.
“I wanted a good result for the fans because they travelled a long way, and hopefully the next leg at Old Trafford will be even better.”
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