Boss Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have meant "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a back six in the final phase as his squad dug in for a victory - securing only their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Although he once notably remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with different formations has remained part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he stated.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Today is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we need adapt, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever media criticize altering the formation all the time, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, then is the opportunity to change.
"We are going to develop into a better side because when all the personnel are back, we are not planning to use three defenders in every match."
Injury Issues Continue
Having just two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing input.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
