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

Prior to their visit to Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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 autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

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

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

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

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 top-flight cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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