Manager Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and chose to field an traditional back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively became a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his side held on for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once memorably said that even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to play with varied setups has remained part of his strategy.
Yet, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing well enough - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in that system, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an style. Today is a distinct time. We lack a lot of players, and we have to adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"It is not because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.
"When you talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, that is the moment to change.
"This will help us grow into a stronger squad because when all the players are back, we are not going to employ three defenders exclusively."
Squad Challenges Continue
Having only two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, however, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will probably still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering insight.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many things you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
