Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to public noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wing-backs and chose to use an orthodox back four shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his squad dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once notably said that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I don't have the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.
"The goal was to build an philosophy. Now is a separate moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we have to be flexible, so they comprehend why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When the press discuss changing the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will understand 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 system, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"This will help us become a more complete squad because when all the players return, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple first-team players already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.