Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to public pressure would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an orthodox back four with two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his team held on for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was giving in to outside noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I don't have the personnel to excel in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an style. Today is a separate time. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they see why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the supporters.
"When media discuss changing the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I think that is the end for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, that is the moment to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a stronger squad because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to play with a back three in every match."
Availability Issues Persist
Having only two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on providing guidance.
"The guy 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 constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Players
While the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
