Source: Team_Talk
Fergie: Six contenders for title
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes any one of six teams could win the Premier League this season.[LNB] Ferguson is not prepared to write off any of the traditional big four, even though Arsenal have endured a miserable summer, with question marks remaining over the futures of star men Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and Liverpool are without a championship since 1990.[LNB]And, with Manchester City preparing to make a concerted challenge and Ferguson believing Tottenham will benefit from being out of the Champions League, the United boss feels it will be a tougher title race than ever.[LNB]"We used to talk about a top four, with ourselves, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool," he said. "You can't say that any more.[LNB]"Manchester City have definitely come into the frame. They have a buying power better than the rest of us.[LNB]"Maybe having the run in the European Cup just stretched Tottenham too much last season and they ended up being out of the top four.[LNB]"But you look at those teams and say any one of them could win the league."[LNB]United will face them wearing a distinctive new black and blue hooped away kit, which will be unveiled in Seattle.[LNB]Inspired by the 1948 FA Cup final and 1968 European Cup final shirts, the new away kit is made from Nike's ground-breaking recycled polyester.[LNB]Each complete kit is made up of up to 13 reclaimed plastic water bottles, which is said to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.[LNB]New boys Phil Jones and David de Gea will link up with their new team-mates for the launch, with Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley also making a belated return after Under-21 duty at the European Championships.[LNB]Ferguson has confirmed none of the quartet will be involved against the well-supported Seattle Sounders in the second game of United's tour on Wednesday - part of a vital preparation for what lies ahead.[LNB]"We know it is going to be such a big challenge again this season," said the Scot. "It never changes. It is not an easy league to win. But we have experience of winning it. That helps."
