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

Before their trip to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed opening period goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different 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 probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a league match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a few midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than what eager to leave player would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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