Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to public pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and instead deploy an traditional back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his team held on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once famously stated that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the ability to experiment with different formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was bowing to external criticism.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a project," he said.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Today is a different juncture. We don't have a lot of players, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever the press criticize changing the formation repeatedly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that becomes the moment to change.
"We are going to grow into a stronger team because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to play with a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the specific date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
