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If you can't win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained merely eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester 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 will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

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

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

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 difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward 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 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United sought a way back into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is currently considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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