Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual back three formation with wide defenders and instead field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a back six in the closing stages as his squad clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to change his system, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize different setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - or else it would look as if he was giving in to external pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I lacked the personnel to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Today is a distinct moment. We lack a lot of players, and we need be flexible, so they see why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When the press discuss changing the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We are going to become a stronger squad because when all the players are available, we are not planning to employ three defenders in every match."
Injury Challenges Continue
With just two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted squad, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will increase 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 among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
Although the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
