Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to external noise would have been "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively functioned as a back six in the latter stages as his squad dug in for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.
Although he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could pressure him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different setups has always been part of his strategy.
However, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Currently is a separate moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we must be flexible, so they understand why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize changing the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the squad will think I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that is the opportunity to evolve.
"We will grow into a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not intending to use three defenders all the time."
Squad Issues Continue
Having just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a depleted squad, with multiple senior stars already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his boss to allow him to return after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me 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 Influence Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as while most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Return Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
