🔗 Share this article

When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager believed his players showed 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 don't recover," said the coach. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

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

"We demonstrated this year we can experience bad moments but suddenly, 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 based on how we performed in the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a league match so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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