Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary back three setup with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his side clung on for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once memorably said that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has remained part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the start of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an style. Currently is a distinct moment. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need be flexible, so they see why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our system, that is the right time to change.
"We will develop into a more complete side because when all the players return, we are not going to use three defenders all the time."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted roster, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to return following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. 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 recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the exact date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
