Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external scrutiny would have signaled "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and instead deploy an standard back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times became a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his team held on for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably said that even the Pope could force him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with varied formations has consistently been part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the players to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Currently is a separate moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the faithful.
"When media criticize altering the system all the time, I can't change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is a disaster for the coach.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We will develop into a more complete team because when all the players are back, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Availability Crisis Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to state his side have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
