Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an standard four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his side held on for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
While he once notably remarked that not even the highest authority could compel him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to utilize different setups has remained part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were doing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to excel in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to build an philosophy. Now is a different juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"When we are playing well in our system, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of players return, we are not planning to play with three defenders exclusively."
Availability Issues Continue
Having just two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Leadership Remains
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
Although the exact date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
