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

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained merely 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more direct.

Had that match happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally decisive.

"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 Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It's been clear since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

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

The coach was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

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

"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was possible players 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 Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a many fixtures."