{'A Unique Sensation' - Have Manchester United Exhibited a Mentality Transformation?

When you cannot win, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

Had that match occurred last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as forceful.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this match, the manager believed his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another better. We communicate more about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the game. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a league game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a few midweek games which will demand a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the pair should be back long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed resolution than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a many fixtures."