Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that Chelsea pose a "big threat" to his team's title defence this season.
The two sides' first clash in the new season will take place on the 18th at Old Trafford.
"They have tremendous experience with the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, John Terry, Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres - there aren't any young kids in that team," Ferguson was quoted as saying in Inside United, the club's official magazine.
"But they don't have 36- or 37-year-olds like Ryan Giggs. Lampard and Drogba are 33, Anelka is 32 - not dissimilar to [Michael] Carrick and Rio Ferdinand, and we wouldn't be saying they are dead and buried, would we? So why should they be? They'll still be a big threat and we expect them to challenge."
When asked if he could empathize with 33-year-old new coach Andre Villas-Boas, who is just a year older than Ferguson was when he was in charge at East Stirling, the latter said situation were different.
"He has a different set-up there to me, but I'm sure he'll get plenty of advice from others and he'll do fine. I don't know much about him," the Scot continued.
"He's a young man and it's a big step coming into the Premier League from the Portuguese championship, but given time and support anything is possible."
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