Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to media noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wide defenders and instead use an standard back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a back six in the latter minutes as his squad dug in for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Despite he once famously stated that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the option to utilize different setups has remained part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - or else it would look as if he was bowing to external noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Today is a separate moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we must adapt, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the fans.
"When you discuss altering the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that is the right time to evolve.
"We will grow into a better team because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not going to play with three defenders in every match."
Injury Challenges Continue
Having just two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off 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, even though he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
