Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and chose to deploy an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with varied formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I don't have the players to excel in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.
"Our aim was to build an style. Now is a separate moment. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the downfall for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We are going to grow into a more complete side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to play with three defenders in every match."
Injury Challenges Continue
With just two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
Although the specific date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
