Head coach Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his trademark back three formation with wing-backs and instead use an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this at times functioned as a back six in the final phase as his squad held on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Despite he once famously said that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the ability to utilize different setups has always been part of his strategy.
Yet, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to external noise.
"When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"We were trying to forge an identity. Now is a separate juncture. We lack a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the fans.
"Whenever media discuss altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the opportunity to adapt.
"This will help us become a better squad because when our full complement of players are available, we are not intending to use a back three in every match."
Injury Issues Persist
With just two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched squad, with multiple first-team stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to return following his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth 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 affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
Although the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
