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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had secured merely 8 points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, 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 controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

Had that match happened last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

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

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a Premier League game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on 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 talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's only a phase.

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