Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to public noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wing-backs and instead deploy an traditional back four with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once famously said that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the option to utilize alternative formations has remained part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I lacked the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an style. Now is a distinct time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they see why we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"When you talk about changing the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of you and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to become a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to employ a back three in every match."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With only two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been playing well.
He is, though, operating with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
Although the specific date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
