Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's tactical system due to public noise would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an standard back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times became a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably said that even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has always been part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would appear as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an identity. Now is a different juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they understand why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.
"When media talk about altering 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 believe that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to evolve.
"This will help us become a more complete side because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to use a back three in every match."
Squad Crisis Persist
With only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his team 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 fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
