Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to public pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to use an traditional back four with two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a back six in the final phase as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the campaign.
While he once famously said that not even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim insists the ability to experiment with different formations has remained part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - lest it would look as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to excel in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"We were trying to establish an style. Currently is a different moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must adapt, so they see why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever you talk about changing the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the opportunity to adapt.
"We will grow into a more complete team because when all the players are back, we are not intending to employ three defenders all the time."
Squad Challenges Continue
Having just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his side have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the exact date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
