Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three formation with wing-backs and opted to field an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively became a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his squad held on for a victory - securing only their second shutout of the season.
Despite he once famously said that even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the ability to utilize different formations has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to outside pressure.
"At the time I came here last season, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a distinct time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the faithful.
"When media discuss altering the formation constantly, I can't change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"We will become a stronger squad because when all the players return, we are not planning to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Persist
With just two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury 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 boss to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "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 captain.
"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the specific date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
