Ruud van Nistelrooy said he addressed the positioning of the Manchester United players at half-time against PAOK.
United were lifeless in another goalless first half against the Greek side but two goals from Amad in the second half secured a first European win in 380 days.
The victory has lifted United up to 15th in the 36-team Europa League table with four more games to play against Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and Steaua Bucharest.
“I addressed the positioning a lot in the half-time,” Van Nistelrooy explained. “We left positions too much in the first half, that’s why we didn’t get going, we couldn’t find our 6s and play forward to the players we wanted in dangerous positions, like Bruno (Fernandes) and Amad.
“I think we did very well in the second half to stay in those positions and then you saw some fluidity occurring and better play on the ball and that led to more chances.”
Van Nistelrooy will take interim charge of United for the final time against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Sunday before Ruben Amorim comes in as head coach on Monday.
Amorim will manage Sporting for the final time against Braga on Sunday and he is not expected to hold discussions with Van Nistelrooy over whether he will stay on as assistant coach until next week.
“I think that Ruben, what he’s saying, he focuses on Braga and I focus on Leicester and that’s a great one for now,” Van Nistelrooy added. “It shows we are focused on the day by day job and getting the maximum out of the team. So let him focus on Braga, I will focus on Leicester and let’s see after that.
“I am only busy with one thing on my mind. I want my last game as an interim, I want to prepare it as good as I can and give the players everything they need to get the best performance out of them and hopefully get three very important games, keep them at Old Trafford, that’s my absolute focus.
“Other than that, I don’t really look too far ahead, to be honest. It’s too important.”