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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half opener, United were staring down the barrel.

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

'If that game happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a point.

It's been clear since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

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 energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk more about this.

"We demonstrated this year we can have bad moments but then, we produce three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the game. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has begun a league match this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a period which features a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which could result in a delayed resolution than what eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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