{'A Different Sensation' - Did Man Utd Exhibited a Mentality Change?

When you cannot triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half goal, United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as emphatic.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

The resolve, the will, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager believed his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. It's evident we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will not give an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a period which includes a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a many games."