‘A different feeling’ – have Man Utd shown mentality shift?

The saying goes, “If you can’t win, don’t lose,” applies.

Manchester United had lost positions under Ruben Amorim and had only eight points before going to Nottingham Forest. Since losing six matches in a row in April, when Rasmus Hojlund’s last-minute effort to draw leveled them at the break, they had not recovered.

United were staring down the barrel when they realized they were trailing at the City Ground after conceding twice in a matter of minutes as Forest overturned a contentious opening goal.

After his side recovered to draw, Amorim’s response was as unclear as nails.

Do you think you would have lost it if that game had taken place last season?

The conclusion was equally decisive.

“Yes, and by more goals, I’m thinking.

The reality is never known. Nine minutes into the game, Amad Diallo flashed home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area to earn a point, which is what we do know.

Since the start of the season, it has become clear that United are playing more effectively this term. They have also started to get better results since October.

The willpower, the desire, and the refusal to give in cannot be quantified.

Amorim felt that his players’ performances in this game demonstrated how much they could improve.

“We don’t recover from this kind of bad five minutes and two goals,” Amorim said.

Amorim didn’t say it, but Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha’s arrival must have helped.

Cunha does not shy away from challenging circumstances, in fact, quite the opposite. When he was booed by home fans for what they thought was his gamesmanship in the first half, he responded by pointing to the badge on his shorts rather than ignore it.

Mbeumo is the epitome of a hustle-bustle jerk who will never let his or her opponent rest.

Amorim was specifically questioned about what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond blaming his previous three wins, he didn’t really provide an answer.

He said, “The confidence, of course, is completely different.” We have had three excellent games, and each one has different levels of confidence. We have better understanding of one another. More is discussed in this context.

We demonstrated that while there are bad games this year, there are three good ones all in.

Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo must have become even more uncertain about their futures in Amorim’s new-look Manchester United if this day demonstrated United’s resilience.

Amorim said in his pre-game press conference that players who believe they face a possible absence from the World Cup could request a departure in January.

Zirkzee and Mainoo are likely to fall under that category. This season, Zirkzee has made 82 minutes of his four Premier League substitute appearances. The number is 138 from seven for Mainoo.

As United fought back from the 50th minute to regain control of a game they were losing, neither team has started a Premier League game this season, nor were they asked to come off the bench.

We have a lot of quality on the bench, but Amorim said, “Sometimes, I have the impression that if I keep stopping the game, I’m going to break something.”

“We were improving during the second half, so my impression was that the guys in front had no room to improve.”

In the final days of the summer, Mainoo agreed to join Napoli, but United refused to approve a deal. Zirkzee initially anticipated a return to Italy, but he is now ready to do so.

The absence of Mbeumo and Amad from the Africa Cup of Nations in December, which includes a few midweek games that will require a level of rotation not previously required, makes the situation worse.

The pair should be back well before the transfer window closes on February 2 – which could mean a later resolution than any wantabe would prefer because the final is on January 18.

When asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo, Amorim responded, “It is the characteristics of the game.” They are aware that it is only a moment.