Frank de Boer is 'passionate' about new Crystal Palace formation, says Scott Dann

Scott Dann has confirmed that new manager Ronald de Boer wants Crystal Palace to play with a back three next season.

They set up in this way for the 2-0 loss against Liverpool in the Asia Trophy, with Dann at the heart of the three with Joel Ward and Damien Delaney either side of him.

Playing such a system has come into fashion in the Premier League over the last 12 months, after Antonio Conte implemented it so successfully with Chelsea last season.

Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino have all turned to the tactic since and, according to Dann, this is the way de Boer wants them to play.

“We have worked on it since the first day he came in and that is the way he wants us to play,” he told the 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.”

Palace fans will get another look at their new formation when they take on West Bromwich Albion in the Asia Trophy third/fourth play-off on Saturday.