Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to public noise would have been "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his trademark back three setup with wide defenders and instead use an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times transformed into a back six in the final minutes as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to utilize different formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a separate time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we need adapt, so they understand why we are changing.
"It is not because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the moment to evolve.
"We are going to become a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not going to use three defenders all the time."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With just two victories in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
