{'A Distinct Vibe' - Have Man Utd Exhibited a Mindset Change?

When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was just as forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this match, the manager felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite 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 crest on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely players who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now open to the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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