Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively became a back six in the final minutes as his team dug in for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once notably stated that not even the Pope could force him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the option to experiment with alternative formations has remained part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - otherwise it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I don't have the squad to play well in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he said.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Today is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you discuss changing the system all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Once we are getting results in our system, that is the opportunity to adapt.
"We are going to grow into a more complete side because when all the players are available, we are not planning to employ a back three all the time."
Availability Challenges Continue
Having only two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched roster, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. After he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
