Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead field an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his side held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once notably said that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the option to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external noise.
"At the time I came here last season, I realized maybe I don't have the players to excel in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he said.
"We were trying to forge an style. Now is a distinct juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the moment to change.
"We will grow into a stronger squad because when all the personnel are available, we are not planning to use a back three exclusively."
Injury Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to return after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
