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Ferguson writes off Chelsea challenge

23/07/2008

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said he is "not concerned about Chelsea" challenging for the Premier League title next season.

Speaking after watching his side beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a pre-season friendly in Durban, Ferguson said he believes new Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari faces a difficult task to follow in the footsteps of the club's most successful coach Jose Mourinho.

"I'm not concerned about Chelsea," the United boss told the Daily Mail newspaper.

"Avram Grant did a good job and [Jose] Mourinho won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup final.

"So there's no one who can improve on Mourinho's record really. It would have to go beyond Mourinho's performance to really worry us and that will be a challenge with the players they've got and the players they've added."

Chelsea have brought in Portuguese stars Deco and Jose Bosingwa this summer, but seem to have spent as much time securing the futures of their existing players - tying down Wayne Bridge, Petr Cech and Michael Essien to new deals.

But Ferguson has cast doubt on the strength of the Blues squad, saying they are getting on in years and may not develop as much as a result.

"They are an experienced side," Ferguson continued.

"I'm not saying necessarily that they're old because with the modern-day training methods, you should be playing in your 30s.

"But what I am saying is that I don't see outstanding progress coming from a team that's in their 30s."