Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that changing Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have meant "the end" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark back three setup with wing-backs and opted to use an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter phase as his squad clung on for a win - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.
While he once notably remarked that even the Pope could force him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.
"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the players to excel in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an identity. Currently is a distinct time. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"When the press talk about changing the formation repeatedly, I can't change because the players will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is the end for the manager.
"When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change.
"We are going to become a stronger team because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to play with a back three exclusively."
Availability Challenges Continue
With only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming home game against winless Wolves.
That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."
Fernandes' Role Endures
However, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be heavily involved, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering input.
"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has bad things sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Personnel
Although the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
