Manager Ruben Amorim argues that altering Man Utd's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have been "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a back six in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once famously stated that even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the option to play with different formations has remained part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing at an acceptable level - lest it would seem as if he was bowing to outside criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps 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 forge an philosophy. Now is a different moment. We lack a lot of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they see why we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize changing the formation all the time, I can't change because the players will understand I'm changing because of you and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Once we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"We will become a more complete side because when all the personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three all the time."
Availability Challenges Persist
Having only two victories in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to let him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably still be deeply engaged, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on providing guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Players
Although the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
