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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had secured just eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

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

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

"We just need to be inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was likely players who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a league match this season and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which includes a few midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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