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

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

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

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

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

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

"We just need to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

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

One can reasonably conclude the striker 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 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys 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 currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

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

"This is about the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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