A different feeling, Another emotion that is how my performance was described by Ruben Amorim who had sat down to write about the performance of Manchester United following a drastic draw with Nottingham Forest. The Red Devils demonstrated some real stamina having recovered a two goal deficit to draw a point with the firsts after months. It was more than a mere comeback in any piece of paper it was a symbolic act that things could actually be on the change at Old Trafford.

This was no longer the United of old, brittle, nervous and vulnerable after yielding. Although Amorim had a group of men that were not impeccable, they demonstrated the grit and calm that the fans had been longing to see. The spirit was different. The energy was different. In other words, it was a feeling of different.

First, let’s set the stage. United had been dismal in trying to lose ground only eight starting points behind since Amorim took over. They had collected nothing but one point in their past six games since they drew at Bournemouth in last April. The script was already familiar when Forest tore the game upside down with two swift goals at the City Ground: another one was on the cards.

However, this time, United was not going to fall. Their side was torn open and it was Amad Diallo, who is more than once criticized of his choice as a wing back who made a sensational even draw. The fact he has gone outside the box with nine minutes left and, with eight minutes to go volleyed a point by hitting the ball thunderously that was not only a point; it was the shift in mentality that Amorim has been preaching.

The message of the manager following the match was very clear. Back then, if we had such bad five minutes and had two goals scored against us we would not recuperate. It is of a different feeling to day he said. You can feel that we could not win this game but we shall not lose. It is one of the sentiments a big team must occasionally experience.

A significant portion of that is through the addition of new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They are personalities who are contagious. When Forest fans jeered Cunha simply pointing to his badge was all he did but this is an action, which speaks volumes about the character. In the meantime Mbeumo, has been an insatiable engine of havoc in the forward, and continually harassing and besieging the defences. These players have added a competitive edge – a desire to win that Amorim has desired in his team.

Nevertheless, with the development of Amorim side, all are not finding their place in the new order. Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo have to deal with unpredictable future. Both were not part of the Forest draw although United pursued the game. Together they have covered a little more than 200 minutes of the action in the Premier League this grain. Amorim acknowledged that he was not keen on interrupting the flow of games but he also indicated that there could be a few players who would soon demand to go to the toilet particularly those players afraid they could be removed in the world cup.

Amorim thought there was a lot of quality on the bench. Nevertheless, I think that sometimes, I want to say that, if I had to break the game I had to break it too often. In the second half we were getting better at the time so I did not feel like adjusting anything.

Such a choice puts Zirkzee and Mainoo on the periphery. Mainoo nearly joined Napoli in the summer and Zirkzee is said to be willing to go back to Italy. The Africa Cup of Nations in December might complicate their lives even more and both Mbeumo and Amad will leave on a temporary basis. As congestion of fictions increases, rotation will eventually have to be adopted – yet Amorim believes they will get their day in the sun. It is only a moment, you see, they know, he said. Nothing to do with quality it is, and we have a lot of games.

And lastly, in addition to the strategy and the choice of players there is the change, which is less noticeable but more vital at the same time, a cultural one. Amorim has started instilling the spirit that Uniteds used to be united that has been characterized by: the thinking it is not over until the last whistle. The aspect that defeat is to be prevented at the cost of victory which no matter how far away is cannot be realized.

This might not seem as tough, yet to a team that has so many times crumbled under limelight, it is a physical development. The draw with Forest was not celebrated as a victory yet it was the way, as it was an opportunity to gain something, i.e. progress. The feedback of the players and the manager himself was an indicator that the level is increasing.

It is all about confidence, Amorim stressed. This was after proving that we can have a bad moment but then have three good games this year. We simply have to keep up with the game till the end of the last 10 minutes.

It is the lesson Manchester United will take with them. They are not a finished product yet. There is still discrepancy, still to improve. At least there is some basis of faith and unity taking shape where none has existed too long.

This, according to Amorim was another feeling, as this could be merely the beginning of something bigger in Manchester United.

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