Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to use an orthodox four-man defense with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final phase as his squad clung on for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably said that even the Pope could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the option to utilize different formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the squad to excel in that system, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an style. Currently is a distinct moment. We lack a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever media discuss altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the moment to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not going to employ a back three exclusively."
Availability Crisis Loom Large
Having only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a depleted roster, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
