Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to public scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his usual back three setup with wide defenders and chose to deploy an orthodox back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the closing minutes as his squad held on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably said that even the Pope could force him to tweak his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with varied formations has always been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were faring well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to outside noise.
"When I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I don't have the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he commented.
"The goal was to build an style. Now is a distinct time. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they see why we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"When you talk about altering the formation all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to change.
"We will become a better side because when all the players are back, we are not going to use a back three exclusively."
Squad Crisis Persist
Having only two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, though, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.
That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that led to 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 urging his manager to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his leader to continue offering guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.
"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
Although the specific date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.