Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an traditional four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his side clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably remarked that not even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the option to play with alternative formations has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I lacked the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.
"The goal was to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We lack a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see why we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"When media talk about changing the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to adapt.
"This will help us grow into a more complete squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to play with a back three exclusively."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having just two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow 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 continental duty.
