{'A Different Vibe' - Have Man Utd Exhibited a Mentality Change?

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

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had earned only eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager felt his players showed they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

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

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We talk more about this.

"We proved this season we can have difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"It's essential to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim'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 missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a league match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a lot of games."