Ruben Amorim says he will not compromise on his idea of playing football solely to win an individual game.
Amorim reminded journalists that he was hired by Manchester United to coach his system which, in itself, is adaptable to different opponents.
The Reds have experienced a difficult start to the campaign, with Wednesday's penalty shootout defeat at Grimsby Town following the draw with Fulham and defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League.
But the boss believes that changing everything now, in the interest of chasing results, would be counterproductive for him and his players.
“I played in all my life, a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. The only system that I didn't play one minute [was] 3-4-3,”
Ruben said.
“So I just have one idea that we need to be so good in this way of playing, then we are going to adapt. It's like some coaches have a mentality that I'm going to put this system and then I'm going to change.
“What I'm thinking is that we have one system that is going to adapt to different systems. And then when everyone is doing this with his eyes shut, I'm going to change a lot of things.
“You cannot tell me that we are always with five defenders. You cannot tell me that we are always with four defenders. You cannot tell me that we are always with three defenders.
“I'm just trying to coach my players, with the idea that I have.
“I say that many times: this is the fun part. If he's doing it just to win the game or to play in the 4-3-3, I would not be here.
“They asked me before I arrive here: can you play in this [other] system? I will say, I will do my system no matter what. If it's okay for you, it's okay. And then in the future, I could change, I could wake up one morning and say, [if] I understand that for my idea of football, it's better to change, I will change, right away. I just want to win.
“But if I'm going to change, because something is not working, I don't believe the players will understand - this guy is telling you one thing [but] he's not believing in that thing.
“So it's not about a system. We didn’t lose to Grimsby about the system. I mean, in the first half, I didn't know the system of the team, so guys, it's not the system.”
United host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, before the first international break of the 2025/26 campaign.
Read Ruben's team news update here, and watch part one of the press conference here.