Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have been "the finish" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three setup with wing-backs and opted to deploy an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his squad dug in for a victory - securing only their second shutout of the campaign.
Despite he once notably remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with different formations has always been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was giving in to outside pressure.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the players to excel in a back three, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Today is a different juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you talk about altering the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a more complete squad because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not intending to employ a back three exclusively."
Injury Issues Continue
Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a depleted squad, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
The Captain's Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
