Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's formation due to external scrutiny would have signaled "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to use an standard back four with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his side held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Although he once memorably remarked that even the highest authority could force him to change his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to utilize different setups has remained part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - or else it would look as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the players to play well in that system, but it was the commencement of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an identity. Currently is a different time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we must adapt, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the influence of the media, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize changing the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the right time to adapt.
"This will help us become a more complete squad because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to employ three defenders all the time."
Availability Crisis Loom Large
Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to 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 player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue offering 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 always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has negative aspects at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. After he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
While the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
