Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead use an orthodox back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a back six in the closing phase as his team held on for a victory - securing only their second-ever shutout of the season.
Although he once notably stated that not even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with varied setups has remained part of his plan.
Yet, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would seem as if he was giving in to outside pressure.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"The goal was to build an style. Now is a distinct juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they see why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When media criticize changing the system all the time, I can't change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Once we are getting results in our system, that is the right time to adapt.
"We will become a better side because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to employ a back three all the time."
Injury Crisis Continue
With only two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a depleted roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury 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 clash, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing input.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
