Boss Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to use an standard four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this at times became a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his squad dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that not even the highest authority could compel him to change his system, Amorim maintains the option to experiment with varied setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I lacked the personnel to excel in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.
"The goal was to establish an identity. Today is a separate juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we need adjust, so they see why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about changing the formation all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to adapt.
"This will help us develop into a more complete side because when all the personnel are back, we are not going to play with three defenders exclusively."
Squad Challenges Persist
Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.
He is, though, working with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Influence Remains
However, the Portuguese star will probably still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
