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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six matches when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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

In this game, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

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

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We talk more about this.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a league match so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo should be back long before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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