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

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager believed his players showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We communicate more about this.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Today, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few midweek games which will demand a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a many games."