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

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured just eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk more about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who think they are at danger 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 fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a Premier League match this season and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to join the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a transfer. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any eager to leave individual would like.

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

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