Boss Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have been "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to use an traditional back four shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his side clung on for a win - securing only their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to play with alternative setups has always been part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were faring well enough - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to external noise.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a process," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an style. Today is a separate juncture. We lack a full complement of players, and we need adjust, so they comprehend why we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever media criticize changing the system constantly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"This will help us become a better team because when all the players are available, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
Having just two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing insight.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are flaws at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured 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 international competition.
