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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the past six games when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial opening period goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been more straightforward.

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It's been clear since the start of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager believed his players demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an rival any rest.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be returned long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented Amorim, when asked directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a many games."