Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wing-backs and instead use an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively functioned as a back six in the closing stages as his team held on for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably said that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with varied formations has remained part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was giving in to external noise.
"When I came here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the players to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.
"We were trying to establish an style. Today is a separate time. We are missing a lot of players, and we must adapt, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"When media discuss changing the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our system, then is the moment to change.
"We are going to develop into a better side because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to employ three defenders exclusively."
Squad Crisis Continue
Having just two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on providing insight.
"He is a 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 communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
