Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to media noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a back six in the final minutes as his team held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
While he once memorably stated that even the Pope could compel him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with alternative formations has remained part of his plan.
Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing at an acceptable level - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I don't have the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"Our aim was to build an philosophy. Today is a different juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.
"When the press talk about changing the system repeatedly, I can't change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a more complete team because when all the players return, we are not planning to use a back three in every match."
Availability Challenges Persist
Having just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to return following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Endures
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured 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 - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
