Boss Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three setup with wide defenders and chose to deploy an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately became a back six in the final phase as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously remarked that even the Pope could force him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the option to experiment with different formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was bowing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Currently is a separate time. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our system, that is the moment to adapt.
"This will help us become a stronger team because when all the players return, we are not planning to employ three defenders all the time."
Squad Crisis Continue
Having just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
