Boss Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to public pressure would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his customary back three setup with wide defenders and instead deploy an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize different setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was bowing to external noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I realized perhaps I don't have the players to play well in that system, but it was the commencement of a process," he said.
"We were trying to build an philosophy. Currently is a different moment. We lack a lot of personnel, and we need be flexible, so they understand the reason we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"Whenever you criticize altering the system repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that becomes the right time to change.
"This will help us develop into a more complete squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Squad Challenges Persist
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to return after his muscle problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
