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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was just as forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

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

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

In this game, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, 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 - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who think they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league game this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is now considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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