Manager Ruben Amorim argues that altering Manchester United's formation due to public pressure would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his team clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to adjust his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has always been part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"When I came here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he said.
"The goal was to forge an style. Today is a different moment. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are changing.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.
"When you discuss changing the formation repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to change.
"This will help us grow into a better team because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to use three defenders all the time."
Squad Crisis Continue
With just two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been playing well.
He is, however, managing with a depleted roster, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on providing insight.
"The guy 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 captain.
"There are bad things at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Personnel
While the specific date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
