Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's formation due to media scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wing-backs and chose to field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad held on for a crucial result - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
Despite he once notably remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with different formations has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - or else it would look as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I don't have the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the commencement of a project," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Today is a different juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize changing the system repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a stronger squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to play with a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Continue
Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a depleted squad, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the 31-year-old will likely continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. 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. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.