Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that altering Man Utd's tactical system due to external noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to field an standard back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times became a back six in the final minutes as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Although he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the ability to utilize varied setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
However, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I lacked the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Currently is a separate moment. We lack a lot of players, and we need be flexible, so they see the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the fans.
"When media talk about altering the system all the time, I can't change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a more complete squad because when all the personnel are available, we are not intending to employ three defenders in every match."
Injury Crisis Persist
With just two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Remains
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
