Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to external pressure would have been "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to use an orthodox back four with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times functioned as a back six in the latter phase as his team clung on for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once memorably stated that not even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to play with different setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a different moment. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the fans.
"When you discuss altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will believe I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will develop into a more complete side because when our full complement of players are back, we are not planning to employ a back three all the time."
Injury Challenges Persist
Having just two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to let him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
Fernandes' Leadership Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering input.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Players
Although the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
