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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

'If that game occurred last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player 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 secure a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha 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 - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We talk increased about this.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

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

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was likely players who believe they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."