Head coach Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to media pressure would have been "the finish" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an standard back four with two central midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final minutes as his side dug in for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the season.
Although he once memorably said that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the capacity to play with varied formations has remained part of his long-term vision.
Yet, he emphasizes he could only implement the change when his team were faring well enough - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to outside pressure.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I lacked the players to excel in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"We were trying to forge an style. Today is a distinct moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we must be flexible, so they see the reason we are changing.
"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.
"Whenever you criticize altering the formation constantly, I can't change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to adapt.
"We are going to become a better squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to play with a back three exclusively."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
With just two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That figure will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can write that."
Fernandes' Role Is Unwavering
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering guidance.
"He is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
While the exact date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
