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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

The determination, the desire, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo 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 jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a league match this season and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a route to recovery 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 stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the pair should be back long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later outcome than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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