If you can't win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.
Prior to their visit to Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got any from the past six games when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.
When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.
The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more direct.
'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'
The answer was equally emphatic.
"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."
It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.
It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.
The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.
In this game, Amorim felt his squad showed they have got better at that too.
"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes has to have."
Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.
Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.
The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival any rest.
The coach was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.
"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We communicate increased about this."We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.
"It's essential to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Now, the impression was not that one."
Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo
If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward 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 members of the squad who think they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter transfer window.
It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.
Not one has started a Premier League match so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.
"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in attack."
The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.
The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.
Since the final is on January 18th, the duo should be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway individual would like.
"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary."It isn't related to ability - and we have a many games."
