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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal snatched a draw.

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

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear 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 determination, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his squad demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate more about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now open to the idea of a return to Italy.

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

As the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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