Manager Ruben Amorim argues that altering Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately transformed into a back six in the closing phase as his squad dug in for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously stated that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different formations has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were faring well enough - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I didn't possess the players to excel in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he stated.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Currently is a separate time. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they comprehend why we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When you talk about altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a better team because when all the players return, we are not planning to employ three defenders all the time."
Injury Issues Persist
Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback after 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. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
