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

Before their visit to Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

Had that match occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We talk more about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can have difficult periods but then, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created 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 possible players who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than any wantaway player would like.

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

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