Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to media pressure would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an traditional back four with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once notably said that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize different setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were doing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to build an identity. Currently is a different juncture. We lack a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the pressure of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press talk about changing the formation constantly, I can't change because the squad will think I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to develop into a more complete team because when all the players are back, we are not planning to use three defenders in every match."
Availability Issues Persist
With only two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team players already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That figure will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be urging his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the specific timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
