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When you cannot win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had earned only 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a contentious first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

'If that game happened last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

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

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow 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 anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than what wantaway player would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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