Van Gaal wants United to play 4-3-3 formation this season

Manchester United has revamped its squad in a major way this summer, sparing no expense to give manager Louis van Gaal reinforcements heading into the new campaign.

Now the Dutchman needs to figure out how to deploy them. Judging by his comments following the Red Devils' final preseason match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, he has already figured that out.

"More or less 4-3-3. We played that already last season, in the second half of the season, and I have said that is the system I want to use," he said. "We played in our shape (on tour) and played how we have to play. That's also where I have been very satisfied."

There have been questions surrounding Van Gaal's lineup selections during preseason, which have seen summer signing Memphis Depay playing in an advanced central-midfield role, and the rest of the team seemingly lining up in a 4-2-3-1 shape.

That's simply a result of a fluid attacking system, according to Van Gaal, and doesn't necessarily reflect the established shape of the team.

"That the midfielder is (sometimes) in front of the striker is not bad because I think you do need variation in your attack," Van Gaal said.

"I like that and I ask for that, especially from Memphis. It can also be (Michael) Carrick or (Bastian) Schweinsteiger or (Morgan) Schneiderlin once in a while, but mostly Memphis. It depends on our opponents."