Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual back three setup with wing-backs and instead use an standard back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a back six in the final stages as his team held on for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the season.
While he once famously remarked that even the highest authority could force him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - lest it would look as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to build an style. Now is a different juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they understand why we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about changing the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"This will help us develop into a better side because when all the personnel are back, we are not going to use three defenders exclusively."
Injury Issues Loom Large
With just two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing insight.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
While the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
