Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have signaled "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead field an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his side dug in for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably stated that even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the option to play with alternative formations has remained part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external pressure.
"At the time I came here last season, I understood maybe I don't have the players to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Today is a distinct time. We are missing a lot of players, and we have to adapt, so they see why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the influence of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever you talk about altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that is the right time to change.
"This will help us grow into a more complete squad because when all the personnel are available, we are not intending to use a back three in every match."
Availability Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal 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 pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Remains
However, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
While the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow 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 continental competition.
