Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual back three formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a back six in the final stages as his team held on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.
While he once notably stated that even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - otherwise it would seem as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I lacked the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a distinct time. We lack a full complement of players, and we must adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever media talk about altering the system repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"This will help us grow into a better team because when our full complement of players return, we are not going to use three defenders exclusively."
Squad Crisis Persist
With only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, however, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to allow him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
While the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable stars 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 international duty.
