Time is ripe to alter Man Utd's formation - the manager states.
Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that altering Man Utd's tactical system due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three setup with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the final stages as his squad clung on for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once notably remarked that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
However, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - lest it would look as if he was bowing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I don't have the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an identity. Now is a different moment. We lack a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever media talk about altering the system constantly, I can't change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to change.
"We will become a more complete squad because when all the personnel return, we are not intending to employ three defenders exclusively."
Availability Issues Loom Large
Having only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to allow him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as while most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue offering guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. 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 true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.