Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted he had to establish a formation at Old Trafford before asking his squad to demonstrate tactical flexibility, as succumbing to media pressure would have been the end for him.
Amorim departed from a back three with wing-backs for the first time in Fridays 1-0 win over Newcastle and instead fielded a conventional back four with two holding midfielders.
The Portuguese boss once memorably said that not even the Pope could force him to change his system. But Amorim, with United now just three points adrift of a Champions League place, insisted he was never as obstinate as he appeared.
