🔗 Share this article

When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their journey to Forest, Manchester United had secured merely 8 points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

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

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more straightforward.

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

The response was just as decisive.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

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

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

In this match, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his kit.

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

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

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

"We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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