Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Man Utd's tactical system due to media scrutiny would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary back three formation with wing-backs and opted to use an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively became a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously said that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize different setups has remained part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"Our aim was to build an identity. Today is a separate juncture. We are missing a lot of players, and we need be flexible, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press criticize altering the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"This will help us grow into a better side because when all the players are back, we are not intending to use a back three in every match."
Injury Challenges Persist
With only two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Remains
However, the Portuguese star will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
