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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The response was just as emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the will, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

In this match, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate increased about this.

"We demonstrated this season we can have difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a league game this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any eager to leave individual would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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