Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark back three setup with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively transformed into a back six in the closing phase as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once notably said that even the highest authority could compel him to change his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with alternative formations has remained part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I lacked the players to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he said.
"The goal was to forge an style. Today is a separate moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need be flexible, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever media discuss changing the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"We will become a better team because when all the players are available, we are not intending to use a back three all the time."
Squad Issues Continue
Having just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue offering input.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
Although the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
