Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to external noise would have been "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his customary back three setup with wide defenders and chose to use an traditional four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously stated that not even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the ability to utilize different formations has always been part of his strategy.
However, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"When I came here last season, I realized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Today is a different moment. We lack a lot of players, and we must adapt, so they comprehend why we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever you talk about changing the system constantly, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the right time to evolve.
"We will become a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three exclusively."
Injury Crisis Continue
Having only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
