Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to public pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual back three setup with wide defenders and chose to use an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his squad clung on for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was bowing to external criticism.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I don't have the players to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he said.
"Our aim was to build an identity. Currently is a separate time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we must adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the fans.
"When media talk about changing the formation constantly, I can't change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the moment to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to use a back three all the time."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a severely stretched squad, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to allow him to return after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Remains
However, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing insight.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
