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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager believed his players showed they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely players who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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