{'A Different Feeling' - Have Manchester United Demonstrated a Mindset Shift?

If you can't triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had secured just 8 points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal snatched a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a point.

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

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

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward 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 local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

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

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

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can experience bad moments but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be 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 feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

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

Not one has started a league game this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than what wantaway player would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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