Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to external pressure would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the final phase as his side held on for a win - securing only their second-ever shutout of the season.
Despite he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could compel him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the option to play with alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would appear as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I lacked the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Currently is a different time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the supporters.
"When you discuss altering the system all the time, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our system, that becomes the moment to evolve.
"This will help us become a better team because when all the personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three in every match."
Availability Issues Continue
Having only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already ruled out for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, 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 lot of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Players
While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
