🔗 Share this article

When you cannot win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

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

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand one another better. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was likely players who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a league match this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which includes a few midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."