Manager Ruben Amorim argues that changing Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have signaled "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an standard back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing stages as his squad dug in for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Despite he once memorably said that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize different formations has remained part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were doing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external noise.
"At the time I came here last season, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an style. Today is a separate moment. We are missing a lot of players, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press talk about altering the formation repeatedly, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to evolve.
"This will help us become a more complete squad because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not intending to use three defenders all the time."
Injury Issues Persist
Having only two victories in their last eight outings prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a severely stretched squad, with seven senior players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pushing his boss to let him to return following his muscle injury.
"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Leadership Endures
However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines 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 stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the specific date for the captain's return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
