Head coach Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have signaled "his demise" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three setup with wing-backs and chose to field an orthodox back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably stated that not even the highest authority could force him to change his system, Amorim maintains the option to utilize varied setups has consistently been part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were faring well enough - lest it would look as if he was giving in to external noise.
"When I came here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to build an style. Now is a separate juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we need adjust, so they comprehend why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever media talk about changing the formation all the time, I can't change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will develop into a better team because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not planning to play with a back three all the time."
Availability Issues Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Remains
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing guidance.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
Although the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
