Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and instead field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his side dug in for a win - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
While he once famously said that not even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his system, Amorim asserts the ability to play with alternative setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I came here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Currently is a different moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we need be flexible, so they comprehend why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press talk about altering the formation constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to evolve.
"We will grow into a stronger side because when all the players are back, we are not planning to use three defenders in every match."
Injury Crisis Continue
With only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted roster, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will probably still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of 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 true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
While the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other injured players 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 international competition.
