Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times functioned as a back six in the closing phase as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably said that even the Pope could force him to change his system, Amorim maintains the ability to play with alternative formations has remained part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Now is a different juncture. We are missing a lot of players, and we need adapt, so they understand why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize changing the formation repeatedly, I can't change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"We will grow into a better team because when all the personnel return, we are not intending to play with a back three exclusively."
Availability Crisis Continue
Having only two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing input.
"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the exact date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
