Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his team dug in for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once famously remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I lacked the players to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Today is a distinct juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to adjust, so they see why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize changing the formation all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that is the opportunity to change.
"We are going to grow into a more complete team because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to employ three defenders all the time."
Squad Issues Loom Large
Having just two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to state his side have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior players already ruled out for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Leadership Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, 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 captain to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the exact date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
