Boss Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and instead deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively became a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his team held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the ability to play with varied setups has remained part of his plan.
However, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was bowing to external pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I don't have the players to excel in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Now is a separate time. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we must adapt, so they understand why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"When the press criticize altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will grow into a better squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to use a back three exclusively."
Squad Issues Continue
Having just two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a depleted roster, with multiple senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue offering 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 speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad 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. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
