Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to external noise would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the closing stages as his side clung on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously said that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize alternative formations has always been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were doing well enough - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I lacked the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Currently is a different time. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the fans.
"When the press criticize changing the formation constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a better side because when all the players are back, we are not planning to employ three defenders in every match."
Availability Issues Loom Large
With just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior players already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Leadership Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue offering insight.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. 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."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
Although the specific date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars 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 continental duty.
