Boss Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to media scrutiny would have meant "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to field an traditional four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his side clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once notably said that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different setups has remained part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the commencement of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an identity. Currently is a different time. We don't have a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize changing the system repeatedly, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, then is the right time to evolve.
"We will become a better side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not intending to employ three defenders all the time."
Squad Crisis Loom Large
With just two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Leadership Remains
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the specific date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
