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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their visit to Forest, Manchester United had gained just 8 points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

Had that match 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."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite 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 kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely players who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on 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 game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

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. The striker was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when asked directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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