Scott Dann has confirmed that new Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer wants the team to play with a back three next season.
The Eagles set up in this way for the 2-0 loss against Liverpool in the Premier League Asia Trophy, with Dann at the heart of the three with Joel Ward and Damien Delaney either side of him.
De Boer also used the formation - which was popularised by Antonio Conte and helped Chelsea become champions - in the third-place match-up, in which Palace beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0.
"We have worked on it since the first day he came in and that is the way he wants us to play," Dann told the official club site. "It's been enjoyable working on the system in training but it is about replicating that out on the pitch.
"He is passionate about us playing in this way so out on the training ground we can work on it but as always it's about the players taking on the responsibility and going into matches knowing that we need to learn and keep improving on this style."
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino all turned to a three-man defence as 2016-17 Premier League season progressed.
Giuseppe Labellarte
