Manager Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's formation due to public pressure would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with different setups has always been part of his plan.
However, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were performing well enough - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I don't have the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an philosophy. Now is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they see why we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the faithful.
"Whenever you talk about altering the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to evolve.
"We will grow into a more complete squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not planning to play with three defenders exclusively."
Availability Issues Loom Large
Having just two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to return following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Remains
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
