{'A Distinct Feeling' - Have Manchester United Shown a Mindset Change?

When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned only 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the start of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

The determination, the desire, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a few weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented Amorim, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a many games."