Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to media pressure would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three setup with wing-backs and opted to field an standard back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times functioned as a back six in the closing stages as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the campaign.
While he once memorably said that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize varied formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was bowing to external noise.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I lacked the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Today is a different time. We are missing a lot of players, and we must adjust, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever media discuss altering the system constantly, I can't change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a more complete team because when our full complement of players return, we are not planning to employ three defenders all the time."
Injury Challenges Continue
Having just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been playing well.
He is, though, operating with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team players already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to allow him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
