Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that changing Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team dug in for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the season.
While he once memorably stated that even the Pope could compel him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with varied formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I lacked the squad to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he said.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Currently is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever media criticize changing the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We are going to grow into a better side because when all the players are available, we are not planning to use three defenders all the time."
Squad Challenges Continue
With just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to state his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Remains
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
