Boss Ruben Amorim argues that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wide defenders and instead deploy an traditional four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a back six in the final minutes as his squad held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to change his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with varied setups has remained part of his strategy.
Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the personnel 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 juncture. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we need adapt, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to evolve.
"We will become a more complete team because when all the personnel return, we are not intending to use a back three all the time."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
