Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to public scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a back six in the latter phase as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever shutout of the season.
While he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I lacked the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the commencement of a process," he commented.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Now is a distinct juncture. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"When media discuss altering the system constantly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I believe that is the downfall for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, then is the right time to adapt.
"We will grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of players return, we are not going to use three defenders exclusively."
Availability Challenges Loom Large
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to return following his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
