Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external noise would have meant "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the closing stages as his squad held on for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably said that not even the Pope could compel him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the option to utilize different setups has always been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an philosophy. Today is a different juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation constantly, I can't change because the players will believe I'm changing because of you and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"We are going to grow into a better side because when all the personnel return, we are not going to play with three defenders in every match."
Availability Challenges Continue
Having only two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched squad, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
