Manager Ruben Amorim argues that altering Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have meant "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three formation with wide defenders and instead use an orthodox back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately became a back six in the latter phase as his team dug in for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
Despite he once memorably said that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim asserts the ability to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his plan.
Nevertheless, he stresses he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was bowing to external criticism.
"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a project," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an identity. Now is a distinct time. We lack a lot of players, and we must be flexible, so they see the reason we are changing.
"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the faithful.
"Whenever the press criticize changing the system repeatedly, I can't change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I feel that is a disaster for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our system, that is the right time to adapt.
"We are going to develop into a stronger squad because when all the players are back, we are not planning to play with a back three exclusively."
Injury Crisis Persist
With just two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.
He is, though, managing with a severely stretched squad, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will grow if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to let him to return following his hamstring injury.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."
The Captain's Influence Endures
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim is sure his captain to continue offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot 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 negative aspects at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he goes to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."
Return Schedule for Key Personnel
While the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
