Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to public pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a back six in the closing phase as his side clung on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously remarked that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to utilize varied setups has remained part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I don't have the players to perform effectively in that system, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"The goal was to build an identity. Currently is a different juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we need be flexible, so they understand why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the fans.
"When you talk about changing the formation all the time, I cannot change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of you and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are playing well in our system, that is the right time to adapt.
"This will help us grow into a more complete team because when all the players return, we are not intending to employ three defenders exclusively."
Having just two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a depleted squad, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to return following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars 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 carry on providing input.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
While the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
