Boss Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to media pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and instead use an orthodox back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his squad dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once famously remarked that even the Pope could compel him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with alternative setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring well enough - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the players to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"We were trying to forge an style. Today is a distinct juncture. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"When the press criticize changing the system constantly, I cannot change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a stronger squad because when all the players return, we are not going to employ three defenders in every match."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
With only two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a depleted roster, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to allow him to return after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
