Fergie lines up 10 of the best - and City are nowhere in sight

Ferguson's Manchester United begin the defence of their title with a visit of Reading tomorrow. But it is next weekend's clash against neighbours City that stands out as an August must-see.

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With former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson spending in the region of £40million in a bid to turn City into a Premier League force, tomorrow week's game at the City of Manchester Stadium is already sold out.

But, asked yesterday about City's chances for the season, Ferguson said: 'Well, buying nine or 10 players at once is difficult. You can't expect overnight success.

'It's difficult to say how they're going to do but you wouldn't expect them to be consistently good. As I know myself, it's always difficult to build teams.'

The relationship between Ferguson and Eriksson will add a further sub-plot to a Premier League story that is once again set to feature the United boss and his traditional rivals Jose Mourinho, at Chelsea, and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

The two clashed regularly when Eriksson was England coach but they will stand side by side on a touchline for the first time next weekend.

Looking at the wider picture, Ferguson did not make any attempt to suggest that an upwardly mobile force would be able to crack the hegemony of United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

But the United manager did pick the sides he feels may have a run at the Champions League places this time.

Ferguson said: 'It looks obvious we can expect good improvement from Tottenham and Newcastle, while Everton have done good business in the summer.

'I can't see beyond those seven but I think Blackburn and Reading will be respectable. Then I was just thinking about Portsmouth. There will be improvement there. They have Harry Redknapp's experience. There used to be a time when Premiership chairmen were enamoured with young managers who stopped playing and went in straight at the top. I think that is a risk.

'Now there seems to be a reliance on experienced managers like Harry, Sam Allardyce and Steve Coppell.

'Newcastle can't help but improve under Sam. He's a great organiser and has great experience.'

Ferguson's first team of the season is eagerly awaited, given the addition to the squad of the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez.

Tevez may have to wait another week but Nani and Anderson are expected to be on the bench at Old Trafford.

Hargreaves, however, hopes to play and Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are ready to take their game to the next level.

He said: 'A team who have won the league have more continuity and consistency. And we expect the young players, like Rooney and Ronaldo, to improve.

'At 21 or 22, it is two or three years before you get anywhere near your maturity. That gives you authority, timing and control of your game.'

Ferguson was perhaps suffering from wishful thinking when he suggested teams will be too interested in their own progress to concentrate on stifling United. Surely the Stretford End will see as many blanket defences as ever this season. But the United managerknows his side may have to go some way beyond the 90-point mark to ensure he gets his hands on his 10th title.

He said: 'The Premier League is about more than just stopping United, Chelsea or Arsenal. When Arsenal went through the season undefeated, we felt the bar had been raised to a 90-point level and that's what we're aiming for to be sure of winning the league.

'It would be fantastic to win it 10 times, especially for someone like Ryan Giggs. I wonder if it could be done again by a player or manager.

'But the challenge is more for the players.'