Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has outlined the reasons for the Red Devils regularly changing formations this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United have experimented with three-man and four-man defences and tinkered with the shape of their midfield and attack.
A 3-5-2 formation was introduced midway through the campaign, with natural left-back Luke Shaw playing as a left-sided centre-back. This set-up worked to great effect as United beat local rivals Manchester City 2-0 in their final Premier League game before the season was suspended.
The Red Devils have also lined up in a more regular 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, with January arrival Bruno Fernandes frequently deployed as a no. 10.
And Phelan has had his say on which formation is best-suited to United's players. "I like the 3-4-3, which is unusual in the game at the moment," he wrote on Twitter. "But the 4-3-3 we're using at the moment suits us quite well, given the players we have at the club.
"Coaches always have to be flexible to understand a system - and knowing when to change it."
Phelan emphasised the importance of being able to adapt formations to different games and used the 2-0 win over Chelsea in February as an example.
In that game, United lined up in a 3-5-2 with Fernandes operating just behind a striking partnership of Daniel James and Anthony Martial. Phelan added: "The games where we've switched to a 3-5-2 has shown our flexibility.
"I think for the game at Chelsea - we wanted two forwards, and without playing a 4-4-2. We got the most out of the players, and they seemed to enjoy it."
Fernandes contributed an assist in that game and Martial found the back of the net as Solskjaer's side sunk the Blues at Stamford Bridge to close on fourth-place.
