Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external noise would have meant "the end" for him.
Initially against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three setup with wing-backs and opted to field an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once famously said that not even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the option to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"We were trying to establish an identity. Now is a different time. We are missing a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about altering the formation constantly, I cannot change because the squad will understand 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, then is the moment to change.
"We are going to become a better squad because when all the players are back, we are not intending to play with a back three exclusively."
Availability Issues Continue
Having just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to say his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a severely stretched squad, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to return after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing guidance.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
