Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to media scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional back four with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his team dug in for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the option to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would look as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"When I came here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a different juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to adjust, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about changing the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"We are going to become a stronger team because when all the players are available, we are not planning to employ a back three exclusively."
Injury Issues Loom Large
Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted roster, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue providing insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
