Boss Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's formation due to public noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual back three formation with wide defenders and opted to use an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately became a back six in the final phase as his side clung on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably stated that not even the Pope could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could solely implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I lacked the players to excel in a back three, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Currently is a separate time. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we need be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful.
"When the press criticize altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the moment to adapt.
"This will help us become a more complete side because when all the personnel return, we are not intending to use three defenders exclusively."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
Having just two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue offering input.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
While the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
