Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three setup with wing-backs and instead use an standard back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different setups has remained part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were performing well enough - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the players to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Currently is a separate juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the faithful.
"When the press talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the downfall for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our system, then is the opportunity to change.
"This will help us become a better team because when all the personnel are back, we are not planning to use a back three exclusively."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a depleted roster, with multiple first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Players
Although the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
