Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have been "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead field an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately functioned as a back six in the final phase as his side clung on for a victory - securing only their second shutout of the season.
Although he once notably remarked that not even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with varied setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I don't have the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"The goal was to establish an style. Today is a different time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press talk about altering the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to change.
"This will help us grow into a more complete squad because when all the players are back, we are not intending to play with a back three in every match."
Availability Issues Loom Large
Having only two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched squad, with multiple first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
