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If you can't win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six games when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period goal, United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been more direct.

Had that match occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

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

The resolve, the desire, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

In this match, Amorim believed his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will not give an opponent any rest.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is completely different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a level of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a many games."