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

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The response was just as emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

The resolve, the desire, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

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

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes 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 instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

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. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the pair should be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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