Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that changing Man Utd's tactical system due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his customary back three formation with wide defenders and opted to field an orthodox back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team held on for a win - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Although he once notably remarked that not even the Pope could compel him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the ability to experiment with alternative formations has consistently been part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - lest it would seem as if he was giving in to external pressure.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I don't have the squad to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"The goal was to build an philosophy. Today is a distinct time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we must adjust, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When media talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We will develop into a better side because when our full complement of players are available, we are not going to employ three defenders exclusively."
Injury Issues Persist
Having just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock 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 reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
Although the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players 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 competition.
