Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to public noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to use an standard four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a back six in the latter minutes as his team clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with alternative formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were doing well enough - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the players to excel in that system, but it was the start of a journey," he said.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Currently is a different moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press discuss altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is the end for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, then is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a stronger team because when our full complement of players are back, we are not intending to play with three defenders all the time."
Injury Issues Loom Large
With just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to return following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will probably still be heavily involved, as while most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue offering insight.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
