Boss Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to media noise would have meant "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary back three setup with wing-backs and opted to deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his squad dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably stated that not even the Pope could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize alternative setups has always been part of his strategy.
Yet, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was giving in to external noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to build an philosophy. Now is a distinct moment. We lack a lot of personnel, and we need adapt, so they see why we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever media criticize changing the formation repeatedly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the opportunity to change.
"We are going to become a better team because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Issues Persist
With only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That number will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
While the precise date for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
