Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary back three setup with wide defenders and instead field an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final phase as his squad held on for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once notably stated that even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize alternative formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I lacked the players to perform effectively in that system, but it was the commencement of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a distinct juncture. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see why we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of journalists, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about changing the formation all the time, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our system, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We will become a stronger squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not going to play with a back three in every match."
Squad Issues Persist
With only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to return following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing input.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
While the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
