Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have been "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three setup with wing-backs and instead use an orthodox four-man defense with two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a back six in the final phase as his team dug in for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his system, Amorim asserts the option to play with different formations has always been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"At the time I came here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in that system, but it was the commencement of a project," he said.
"We were trying to forge an identity. Now is a distinct juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we must adapt, so they understand why we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press criticize changing the system repeatedly, I can't change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are getting results in our system, that is the moment to adapt.
"We are going to grow into a more complete squad because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to employ a back three in every match."
Squad Challenges Continue
With only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to say his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his boss to let him to return after his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue providing input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Timeline for Key Personnel
While the exact date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
