Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to public pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the closing phase as his team held on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once famously stated that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to play with different setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would appear as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Currently is a separate time. We lack a lot of players, and we need adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.
"When you talk about changing the formation constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to change.
"This will help us become a stronger squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to play with three defenders in every match."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
With just two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"There are bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
