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If you can't win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their visit to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, I believe so."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager believed his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League game so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench 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 lot of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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