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

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured 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 contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

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

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

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

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other better. We talk more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering 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 sanction a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be back well before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than what wantaway player would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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