Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have been "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to use an standard four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final phase as his side held on for a crucial result - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
Although he once memorably remarked that not even the highest authority could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the option to utilize varied setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an style. Now is a different juncture. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press criticize changing the system constantly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"We are going to grow into a more complete side because when all the players return, we are not intending to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Issues Loom Large
Having only two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
