Phil Jones insists he and his fellow Manchester United defenders are “comfortable” in the system that has left them under fire.

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Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Southampton at Old Trafford was marked by having no shots on target and yet more unease in their backline.

Boss Louis van Gaal has favoured a three-man central defence with wing-backs since his summer arrival, but Jones, Chris Smalling and substitute Tyler Blackett were found wanting when Dusan Tadic struck the winner that saw Saints leapfrog United into third spot. 

Visiting boss Ronald Koeman admitted they had targeted United’s defensive flaws as he said: “You know they have difficulties building up with three centre-backs.”

But Jones hit back, saying: “I think we are comfortable playing in it. We have a back four or three and we are comfortable with both.

“Sometimes maybe we play that pass in the defence when we shouldn’t, but we are comfortable playing in both formations the manager has shown. It’s a learning curve. It doesn’t just happen overnight. You don’t just click your fingers and you are used to playing in a formation.

“But we are improving in training and we want to get better. That’s the main thing. Every one of us in the changing room wants to get better, to learn and that’s only good for us. We are still improving as a team.”

That improvement needs to be reflected in results, though, and Jones targeted another run after the Saints ended their 11-match
unbeaten streak.

United are fourth, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea, but Jones added: “It’s not where we want to be. We want to be top and we need to keep improving.

“I still think there’s a lot of confidence still in the dressing room. We have lost the game, the lads are disappointed, but you have to move on quickly. We have been on a decent run and we need to go on a new one."

The win for Saints, their first at United since 1988, has boosted their Champions League ambitions, and Tadic promised even more from him to help fulfil the dream.

He said: “I have had a lot of problems with injuries and now I am a little better and they’re going to see even more of me as the season goes on, because I’m going to be fitter.”