Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that changing Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and chose to field an standard four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately became a back six in the final phase as his squad dug in for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Although he once memorably said that even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim insists the ability to experiment with different formations has always been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were doing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a distinct moment. We are missing a lot of players, and we must adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"When media discuss altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, then is the right time to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a better squad because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to play with three defenders in every match."
Squad Challenges Continue
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been in good form.
He is, though, operating with a depleted roster, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on offering input.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of other injured players 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.
