Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to media pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to deploy an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the latter stages as his side held on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the ability to utilize varied setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could solely alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was giving in to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I recognized perhaps I don't have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"Our aim was to forge an style. Currently is a different juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever the press talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to adapt.
"This will help us become a stronger side because when all the players are available, we are not intending to employ a back three all the time."
Injury Issues Loom Large
With only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a depleted squad, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Remains
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue providing insight.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys 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 leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
