Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three formation with wing-backs and instead field an standard back four with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a back six in the final phase as his side clung on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Despite he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could compel him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize different setups has remained part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the players to excel in a back three, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an identity. Today is a different juncture. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"When media discuss altering the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to adapt.
"We are going to grow into a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to use three defenders all the time."
Injury Issues Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team players already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be heavily involved, as while most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing input.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
