Manchester United 2 Marseilles 1: Hernandez comes to the rescue as United make heavy weather of tricky French examination

The summer signing scored in each half, propelling the club into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for a fifth successive season.

An own goal by Wes Brown in the 82nd minute ensured a nervous finish but United – who were again far from emphatic – were not breached again by Marseille and secured their passage.

The only downside for manager Sir Alex Ferguson was that both John O’Shea and his replacement Rafael went off with suspected hamstring injuries.

United, with Hernandez selected ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, got off to a flying start with an opening goal from the Mexican in the fifth minute. Ryan Giggs found Rooney from the left flank with a short pass. The striker played the ball to the far post with Hernandez tapping it in.

It was just the start Ferguson was looking for after a goalless first leg in France, and the young forward’s instincts drew praise from strike-partner Rooney, who is afforded more creative freedom when playing alongside the 22-year-old.

“He’s got great movement so I’m playing the position that I did when I started playing professionally,” said Rooney. “I’m enjoying it and thankfully he’s a finisher. It’s not often forwards get the chance to be on the ball and enjoy playing.

“It was a difficult game, we knew they were a physical team with a lot of power – but we just deserved it in the end.”

Hernandez was also booked for a challenge on former Old Trafford favourite Gabriel Heinze before testing Mandanda in the 23rd minute with a header.

Marseille should have equalised when Diawara got on the end of a cross from Taye Taiwo but from six yards out he headed wide.

Hernandez then had a claim for a penalty waved away after the Mexican went to ground under pressure from Taiwo before Loic Remy went close for Marseille.

Hernandez extended United’s lead in the 76th minute with another clinical finish for his fifth goal in five games, taking his tally to 16 for the season.

Giggs started the move by releasing substitute Antonio Valencia and he in turn whipped the ball across to Hernandez, who made no mistake.

But Marseille responded and Brown headed into his own net in the 82nd minute under fierce pressure from Heinze.

That set up a nerve-shredding final few minutes but United held firm to reach the last eight.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted he was “not interested” in whether John Terry had changed his ways since being stripped of the England captaincy following coach Fabio Capello’s controversial decision to reinstate the Chelsea central defender.

The news about Terry overshadowed Chelsea’s press conference ahead of tonight’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Copenhagen.

The big surprise came when Ancelotti revealed Fernando Torres was not a certain starter as he confirmed he was planning to rest players ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League match against Manchester City.

Copenhagen, who Chelsea lead 2-0 after the first leg, appear tailor-made for Torres finally to end the goal drought he has endured since his £50m move from Liverpool, but Ancelotti said: “Maybe he will have a rest.”