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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period goal, United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to the manager 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 just as emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim 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 secure a point.

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

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his players showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a different feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, 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 energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand each other better. We talk increased about this.

"We demonstrated this season we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in 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 all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a later outcome than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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