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

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned only eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past 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 City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a disputed opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another better. We talk increased about this.

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

"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team showed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League game this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."