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

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had gained just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

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

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely different," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles this season. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a many games."