Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wing-backs and instead field an standard four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately became a back six in the latter minutes as his team clung on for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once memorably stated that even the Pope could force him to change his system, Amorim asserts the ability to play with alternative setups has consistently been part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were doing well enough - lest it would look as if he was giving in to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I lacked the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a separate juncture. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the influence of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever you criticize changing the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our system, then is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to grow into a stronger team because when all the personnel are available, we are not intending to use a back three in every match."
Availability Issues Persist
With only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched squad, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to allow him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, 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 expects his leader to continue providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys training. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
