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

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

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

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this match, Amorim felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We communicate increased about this.

"We demonstrated this year we can experience bad moments but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

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

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

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

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of rotation not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a delayed resolution than what wantaway player would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," said the coach, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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