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If you can't triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game 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 refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this match, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a way back into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo should be back long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of games."