Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to external pressure would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to deploy an orthodox back four shielded by two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a back six in the latter stages as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the season.
While he once notably said that not even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with alternative formations has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I lacked the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Currently is a different moment. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When you criticize changing the formation constantly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the moment to adapt.
"This will help us grow into a more complete squad because when all the personnel return, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Availability Crisis Loom Large
Having only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch 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 leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
While the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
