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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest overturned a contentious first-half goal, United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The response was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager believed his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in the match 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 signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a time which features a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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