Manager Ruben Amorim argues that altering Manchester United's formation due to media scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and instead field an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times transformed into a back six in the final stages as his team dug in for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once famously stated that even the highest authority could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the capacity to play with alternative formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was giving in to external pressure.
"At the time I came here last season, I realized maybe I lacked the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the commencement of a project," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an philosophy. Today is a separate time. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"Whenever the press criticize changing the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"We will develop into a more complete squad because when our full complement of players are back, we are not planning to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Continue
With just two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted roster, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to let him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on providing insight.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Players
Although the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
