Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to public noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively functioned as a back six in the closing minutes as his side dug in for a win - securing only their second shutout of the campaign.
Despite he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to play with alternative formations has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he clarifies he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - or else it would look as if he was bowing to external pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to excel in that system, but it was the commencement of a journey," he stated.
"The goal was to build an identity. Now is a distinct juncture. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever media talk about changing the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to become a more complete squad because when all the personnel are available, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time."
Squad Issues Persist
Having just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering insight.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Players
While the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
