🔗 Share this article

If you can't triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to secure a point.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the start of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other better. We talk more about this.

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

"It's essential to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was likely players who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which includes a few midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be returned long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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