Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Man Utd's formation due to external scrutiny would have meant "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three formation with wing-backs and opted to deploy an traditional back four shielded by two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing stages as his team clung on for a victory - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Although he once famously remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to play with different formations has remained part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he clarifies he could solely implement the change when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.
"When I came here last season, I realized maybe I don't have the personnel to excel in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"Our aim was to establish an style. Currently is a distinct time. We lack a full complement of players, and we need adapt, so they comprehend the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you talk about changing the system repeatedly, I cannot change because the players will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are playing well in our system, that is the right time to evolve.
"This will help us grow into a better squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not planning to use three defenders exclusively."
Availability Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover 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, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his manager to let him to return after his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Timeline for Injured Players
While the exact date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.
