Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his trademark back three setup with wing-backs and instead use an traditional four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times became a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his side dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once memorably remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the option to utilize varied formations has remained part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing sufficiently well - or else it would appear as if he was giving in to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the commencement of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we need be flexible, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"When you talk about changing the formation constantly, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our system, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"We are going to grow into a more complete squad because when our full complement of players are available, we are not planning to play with a back three exclusively."
Injury Challenges Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering insight.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. 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 finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Players
While the precise date for Fernandes' return - 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 international duty.
