Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to public noise would have meant "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wing-backs and instead deploy an traditional four-man defense shielded by two holding midfielders.
He himself conceded this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his squad held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably remarked that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the option to utilize alternative setups has consistently been part of his strategy.
Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were doing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I don't have the players to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a project," he commented.
"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Now is a distinct juncture. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we need adjust, so they understand why we are changing.
"This isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever you discuss altering the formation constantly, I cannot change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to adapt.
"We are going to grow into a better team because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Availability Crisis Continue
With just two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly urging his boss to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws at times - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many things you don't see.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
While the exact date for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
