Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to public pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to field an orthodox four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a back six in the closing stages as his side held on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
While he once famously said that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to play with alternative formations has remained part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were doing sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the players to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"We were trying to build an style. Now is a different time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we need adapt, so they see why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever media talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to evolve.
"We will become a stronger team because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to employ three defenders exclusively."
Availability Crisis Persist
With only two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to return following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as while most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering insight.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
