🔗 Share this article

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

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had gained just eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player showed why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

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

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

In this game, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

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

"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 game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a league match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo should be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands 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 lot of games."