{'A Different Sensation' - Have Man Utd Exhibited a Attitude Transformation?

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

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned just eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are playing better this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Now is a different feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. 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 totally different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"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 collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a few weekday matches which will require a level of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be back long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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