The moment is ripe to alter Man Utd's formation - the manager declares.
Boss Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.
By his own admission this at times transformed into a back six in the final stages as his squad dug in for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.
Although he once memorably said that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with varied formations has consistently been part of his strategy.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"When I came here last season, I recognized maybe I don't have the players to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.
"The goal was to forge an style. Today is a separate moment. We are missing a lot of players, and we need be flexible, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.
"Whenever the press discuss changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the coach.
"Once we are performing strongly in our system, then is the opportunity to evolve.
"We will develop into a more complete team because when all the players return, we are not planning to employ three defenders in every match."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to state his team have been playing well.
He is, though, operating with a depleted squad, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return after his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."
The Captain's Role Endures
Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will probably continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most injured stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed 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 carry on providing guidance.
"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.
"There are negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Personnel
While the precise date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.