When you cannot win, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.
Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained just 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal snatched a draw.
When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, United were facing defeat.
The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to draw could not have been more straightforward.
'If that game happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'
The response was just as forceful.
"Yes, 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 picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a point.
It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.
The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.
In this game, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.
"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."
Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.
Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.
The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.
Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.
"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another better. We communicate increased about these aspects."We demonstrated this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.
"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."
If this was a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.
In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.
It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.
Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and neither 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 second half.
"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."
Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.
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 couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.
As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would like.
"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, 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 fixtures."
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