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If you can't triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had earned just 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to secure a point.

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

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

In this match, Amorim felt his squad showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate more about this.

"We demonstrated this season we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was likely players who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the idea of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo should be back long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a many games."