Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have meant "the finish" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wide defenders and instead use an traditional back four shielded by two holding midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once notably stated that even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to play with varied formations has remained part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the squad to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a different juncture. We lack a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they see why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the faithful.
"When media discuss changing the formation repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the coach.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, then is the moment to evolve.
"This will help us become a more complete squad because when all the personnel are back, we are not intending to employ a back three all the time."
Injury Crisis Loom Large
Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, working with a severely stretched squad, with multiple first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback after his muscle injury.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to train," said 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 probably continue to be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the skipper.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel
Although the exact date for the captain's return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
