Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's formation due to media scrutiny would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an orthodox back four shielded by two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively functioned as a back six in the latter minutes as his team held on for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once notably stated that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with varied setups has remained part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were faring sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Today is a separate time. We lack a full complement of players, and we need adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize changing the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to develop into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to use a back three exclusively."
Injury Issues Continue
With just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Leadership Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
