Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to media pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively transformed into a back six in the latter minutes as his side dug in for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably stated that not even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with varied setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Yet, he clarifies he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the commencement of a process," he stated.
"The goal was to establish an identity. Currently is a distinct moment. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they see why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the fans.
"When media talk about altering the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the opportunity to evolve.
"This will help us develop into a stronger squad because when all the players are available, we are not planning to employ three defenders all the time."
Squad Issues Persist
Having just two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to continue offering insight.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
