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

Before their journey to Forest, Man Utd had gained just eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this match, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club sometimes must possess."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat 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 tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We talk more about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely players who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League match so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as United sought a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

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

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