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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent any rest.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League game this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is now open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo should be returned well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than any wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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