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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six games when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been more direct.

Had that match happened last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We talk more about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible players who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is 138 from seven.

Neither has started a league match so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

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

"It is the demands of the game," said the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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