Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to public pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to field an traditional back four with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively transformed into a back six in the final minutes as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously said that even the Pope could compel him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to play with different formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an style. Now is a separate time. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they understand why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"When you discuss altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the players will think I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the right time to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a better team because when our full complement of players are back, we are not intending to use a back three all the time."
Squad Issues Continue
Having just two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to allow him to return after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
