Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have meant "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wide defenders and instead deploy an orthodox back four with two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively became a back six in the final stages as his side dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably said that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to play with varied setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the squad to excel in that system, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Currently is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we need be flexible, so they understand why we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of the media, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about changing the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"This will help us become a stronger side because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to play with a back three all the time."
Squad Issues Loom Large
With only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to state his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be urging his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering input.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
