Boss Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to external scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to field an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his team held on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously stated that even the Pope could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
However, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I lacked the players to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he stated.
"We were trying to forge an style. Today is a distinct moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they understand why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When the press discuss altering the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will grow into a better squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not intending to employ a back three in every match."
Availability Crisis Continue
Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will rise 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 miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on providing input.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the specific timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
