Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to use an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively became a back six in the latter stages as his side dug in for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to play with varied setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was giving in to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the players to excel in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Currently is a distinct juncture. We lack a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the faithful.
"When the press discuss changing the system all the time, I can't change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, that is the right time to change.
"This will help us develop into a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to play with three defenders in every match."
Availability Issues Continue
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to return after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the specific date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
