Head coach Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to use an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his team dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably said that not even the Pope could compel him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with alternative setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"When I came here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an style. Now is a distinct juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the system constantly, I can't change because the players will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the right time to evolve.
"This will help us become a better squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not intending to employ three defenders exclusively."
Injury Issues Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails 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 clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to return following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players view 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 expects his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the exact date for Fernandes' return - 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.
