Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to public noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox back four with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his team held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once notably stated that even the highest authority could compel him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to excel in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Today is a different moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they understand why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the supporters.
"When you talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"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 in every match."
Squad Challenges Continue
With only two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Remains
However, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
While the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
