Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have meant "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark back three setup with wide defenders and opted to deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times transformed into a back six in the latter minutes as his squad dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously said that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has always been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I don't have the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Now is a distinct time. We don't have a full complement of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the faithful.
"When the press talk about changing the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the opportunity to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a more complete squad because when all the personnel are available, we are not intending to play with three defenders all the time."
Squad Issues Persist
With just two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most injured stars 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 is sure his captain to continue offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
