Manager Ruben Amorim says that changing Man Utd's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have meant "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wide defenders and instead field an orthodox back four with two defensive midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times became a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team clung on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.
While he once notably stated that even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with alternative formations has consistently been part of his plan.
However, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would look as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I came here last season, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to excel in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Now is a distinct juncture. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever you criticize altering the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to change.
"This will help us grow into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to employ a back three all the time."
Squad Challenges Persist
Having just two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper 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 after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
The Captain's Role Remains
However, the Portuguese star will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to continue providing input.
"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. 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 leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
