Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and opted to field an traditional back four with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team held on for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to experiment with different setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were faring at an acceptable level - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I didn't possess the squad to play well in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Today is a different time. We lack a lot of players, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever you talk about altering the system constantly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our system, then is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a better squad because when all the players return, we are not planning to use three defenders in every match."
Availability Issues Loom Large
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
