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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned only eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was just as decisive.

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

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

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"We just need to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a league match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo should be returned well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any eager to leave individual would like.

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

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