Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to media pressure would have meant "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary back three formation with wide defenders and instead field an standard four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively functioned as a back six in the final stages as his side held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably said that even the highest authority could compel him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the ability to play with alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an style. Now is a separate time. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you talk about altering the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to become a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to play with a back three exclusively."
Availability Issues Continue
With only two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to say his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing input.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has bad things at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. 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. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
