Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to media noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately functioned as a back six in the final stages as his side dug in for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
However, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - lest it would look as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an style. Today is a separate time. We are missing a lot of players, and we must adapt, so they understand why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you discuss changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the right time to adapt.
"We will grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to employ three defenders in every match."
Availability Challenges Loom Large
With only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to state his side have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to allow him to return after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has flaws at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, 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 wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the specific date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players 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.
