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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was just as forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

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

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

"We proved this year we can experience bad moments but then, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach stated it was likely players who believe they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. 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 7.

Not one has started a league game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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