Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing stages as his squad dug in for a win - securing only their second shutout of the campaign.
While he once famously remarked that even the Pope could force him to change his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize varied setups has remained part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I lacked the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an philosophy. Currently is a separate time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you talk about altering the system constantly, I can't make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to evolve.
"We will grow into a better side because when all the players return, we are not going to play with a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Persist
Having only two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the precise timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
