Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively functioned as a back six in the closing phase as his team clung on for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once famously stated that even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to play with alternative setups has always been part of his long-term vision.
However, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would look as if he was giving in to outside criticism.
"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Now is a separate time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the pressure of you guys, or the fans.
"Whenever media discuss changing the formation all the time, I cannot change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, then is the moment to evolve.
"We will develop into a better squad because when our full complement of players are available, we are not planning to employ three defenders all the time."
Injury Crisis Continue
With just two wins in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.
He is, though, operating with a severely stretched squad, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal 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 reportedly pressing his boss to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Players
Although the precise 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, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
