Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three formation with wing-backs and chose to use an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times became a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his squad dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once notably stated that even the Pope could compel him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with varied formations has remained part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an philosophy. Currently is a different juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need be flexible, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press criticize altering the system all the time, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the moment to change.
"We will develop into a more complete squad because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to employ a back three in every match."
Availability Challenges Persist
Having just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been in good form.
He is, however, working with a severely stretched roster, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Players
Although the precise date for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
