Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to media scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to field an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his squad dug in for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously stated that not even the Pope could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with alternative setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were doing well enough - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an style. Currently is a distinct juncture. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will think I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that is the right time to evolve.
"We are going to develop into a more complete side because when our full complement of players are available, we are not going to play with a back three in every match."
Squad Crisis Persist
With just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Leadership Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
While the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.