Time is optimal to switch Man Utd's system - the manager declares.
Boss Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's tactical system due to media scrutiny would have meant "his demise" for him.
For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and chose to field an traditional four-man defense with two central midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged this effectively transformed into a back six in the closing minutes as his team dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.
While he once famously said that even the highest authority could compel him to change his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize different formations has always been part of his plan.
Yet, he stresses he could only make the switch when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was giving in to external criticism.
"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I don't have the players to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a project," he said.
"The goal was to establish an style. Today is a different moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are making changes.
"The change isn't because of the influence of journalists, or the supporters.
"When the press criticize altering the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of you and I think that is the downfall for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to change.
"This will help us develop into a stronger squad because when our full complement of players return, we are not intending to play with a back three in every match."
Availability Issues Persist
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, operating with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to let him to return following his hamstring problem.
"Fernandes is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."
The Captain's Role Remains
However, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to carry on providing input.
"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Injured Players
Although the specific timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.