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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

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

The determination, the desire, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim believed his squad showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but then, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to be inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 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 started a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon 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 lot of talent 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 feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the pair should be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway player would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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