Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to external noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary back three setup with wide defenders and opted to field an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his squad dug in for a victory - securing just their second-ever shutout of the season.
Although he once notably said that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the ability to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the players to play well in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Now is a distinct moment. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you talk about altering the formation constantly, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to use a back three exclusively."
Squad Crisis Persist
With just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
