Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to public scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an orthodox back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his side clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once memorably remarked that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to play with alternative setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would look as if he was bowing to external pressure.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an philosophy. Now is a different time. We don't have a full complement of players, and we need adapt, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When the press criticize changing the formation all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.
"Once we are getting results in our system, that is the opportunity to evolve.
"This will help us become a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not planning to use a back three all the time."
Availability Issues Loom Large
Having just two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to say his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Players
While the precise timeline for Fernandes' 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 competition.
