Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual back three formation with wide defenders and chose to use an orthodox back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his side dug in for a win - securing only their second shutout of the season.
Although he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Yet, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were faring at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I didn't possess the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the commencement of a process," he stated.
"The goal was to build an philosophy. Today is a distinct juncture. We lack a lot of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the fans.
"Whenever you discuss changing the formation all the time, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will grow into a better squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to use three defenders in every match."
Squad Issues Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to return following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, 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 job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
Although the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players 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 duty.
