Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to external noise would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to deploy an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his squad held on for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Despite he once notably stated that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I recognized perhaps I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Now is a separate time. We are missing a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they see why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.
"When media talk about changing the formation all the time, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our system, that is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to grow into a stronger side because when all the personnel return, we are not planning to use three defenders all the time."
Injury Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a depleted squad, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars 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 input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
