Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary back three formation with wide defenders and chose to field an standard back four with two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively transformed into a back six in the closing phase as his team held on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could force him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could solely implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the squad to play well in that system, but it was the start of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Today is a different juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.
"When the press talk about altering the formation constantly, I can't change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of you and I think that is the end for the manager.
"When we are playing well in our system, then is the moment to adapt.
"We are going to become a stronger team because when all the personnel return, we are not going to play with a back three exclusively."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched squad, with seven first-team players already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails 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 understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to return after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering insight.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable stars 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 continental competition.
