Boss Ruben Amorim contends that changing Man Utd's formation due to external scrutiny would have signaled "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to use an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately became a back six in the latter phase as his squad dug in for a win - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
While he once memorably remarked that even the highest authority could compel him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the option to play with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the players to excel in that formation, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"We were trying to forge an identity. Today is a distinct juncture. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you discuss altering the formation repeatedly, I can't change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that becomes the moment to adapt.
"We will develop into a more complete squad because when all the players return, we are not planning to use three defenders in every match."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted roster, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper 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 following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
