Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional back four shielded by two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his side dug in for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously said that even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with different setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring at an acceptable level - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external pressure.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I lacked the players to excel in a back three, but it was the commencement of a process," he said.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Today is a separate time. We don't have a lot of players, and we need adapt, so they understand why we are switching things up.
"The change isn't because of the demands of journalists, or the supporters.
"Whenever media discuss altering the system all the time, I can't change because the players will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"When we are performing strongly in our system, that becomes the opportunity to change.
"We are going to develop into a stronger side because when all the personnel are available, we are not intending to employ a back three exclusively."
Injury Crisis Loom Large
With just two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been in good form.
He is, though, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven first-team players already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Role Remains
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to carry on providing input.
"He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain.
"He has flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
