Boss Ruben Amorim contends that changing Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and instead field an orthodox back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a back six in the final phase as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once memorably said that even the Pope could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with varied setups has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were faring well enough - otherwise it would seem as if he was giving in to external noise.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the commencement of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to establish an philosophy. Now is a separate time. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press talk about altering the formation repeatedly, I can't make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are getting results in our system, that is the opportunity to evolve.
"We are going to develop into a better side because when all the personnel are back, we are not planning to use a back three all the time."
Injury Challenges Continue
Having only two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue offering guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
