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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 earned just 8 points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a tie.

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

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

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

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We talk more about this.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would like.

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

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a lot of games."