Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to public pressure would have meant "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to use an orthodox back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a back six in the closing minutes as his squad held on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that not even the Pope could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to play with varied formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he clarifies he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I lacked the personnel to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an style. Now is a distinct juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of the media, or the fans.
"When the press talk about altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"We are going to become a more complete team because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Injury Issues Loom Large
With just two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper 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 let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Leadership Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering insight.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys 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. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
