🔗 Share this article

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

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period goal, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

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

The response was just as decisive.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, in my opinion."

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

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

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this game, the manager believed his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate more about this.

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

"We just need to remain inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim said it was likely players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than what wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a many games."