Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have meant "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to deploy an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad held on for a win - securing only their second-ever shutout of the season.
Despite he once notably stated that not even the Pope could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the ability to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I didn't possess the players to excel in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Now is a separate juncture. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"We will develop into a better squad because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not going to use a back three in every match."
Availability Crisis Continue
Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
However, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Players
While the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
