Manager Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to use an traditional back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his side held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once notably stated that not even the Pope could force him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize alternative setups has remained part of his plan.
However, he stresses he could only implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - lest it would seem as if he was bowing to external criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Currently is a different moment. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever media criticize changing the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to adapt.
"We will grow into a more complete squad because when all the players are available, we are not intending to employ three defenders exclusively."
Availability Challenges Loom Large
Having just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a depleted roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be urging his boss to allow him to return following his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"He has bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Key Personnel
While the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
