Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to field an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a back six in the final minutes as his squad held on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim maintains the option to utilize alternative formations has remained part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the squad to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Now is a different moment. We lack a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation all the time, I can't change because the players will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, that is the opportunity to change.
"We will develop into a more complete team because when all the players are back, we are not going to employ three defenders in every match."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
With only two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Remains
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be heavily involved, as while most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are flaws at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key 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, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
