Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to public pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to field an traditional four-man defense with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his side held on for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Despite he once notably said that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize varied setups has always been part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would look as if he was giving in to external noise.
"At the time I came here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the players to perform effectively in that system, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an style. Today is a different moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they understand why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever you talk about changing the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to develop into a stronger side because when our full complement of players return, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Availability Challenges Persist
Having just two victories in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a depleted squad, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always speaking. 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 watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
