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If you can't triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie 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 equally decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

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

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience bad moments but then, we produce three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was possible players who believe 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 fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league match so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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