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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned merely eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

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

The response was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed 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 player who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League game so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a way back into a game they were trailing in 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 stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few weekday matches which will demand a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be back well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a lot of fixtures."