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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had gained only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed opening period goal, United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

'If that game occurred last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the start of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager believed his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can have bad moments but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

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

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which features a few weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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