Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to field an standard back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his side clung on for a victory - securing only their second shutout of the season.
Although he once memorably remarked that even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize varied formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"At the time I came here last season, I understood perhaps I don't have 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 identity. Now is a different moment. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"When the press criticize altering the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the right time to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a stronger squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Availability Challenges Continue
With only two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to return following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on providing input.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has bad things at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
