Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's tactical system due to public scrutiny would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a back six in the closing stages as his squad held on for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Although he once notably stated that even the Pope could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the option to play with varied formations has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was giving in to external pressure.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I don't have the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Today is a distinct time. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever media criticize altering the formation 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 downfall for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our system, that is the opportunity to change.
"This will help us develop into a better team because when our full complement of players are back, we are not intending to use a back three in every match."
Injury Crisis Loom Large
Having just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted roster, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not 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 skipper.
"There are flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Players
While the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
