Head coach Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's formation due to public noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to deploy an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his side held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably stated that even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with alternative formations has remained part of his plan.
However, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - lest it would seem as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Today is a distinct time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to evolve.
"This will help us become a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three in every match."
Squad Issues Persist
With just two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing input.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
