Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien believes experience will triumph over youth in the battle for the Barclays Premier League title.
Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed his youthful Manchester United squad, who edged Chelsea for the domestic and European double last season, will again triumph over an ageing Blues side under their new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
But 25-year-old Essien, fresh from agreeing a new five-year contract, is confident a Blues team including 30-year-old midfielders Deco and Frank Lampard and 31-year-old Michael Ballack can end United's two-year reign as Premier League champions.
"At the moment we have new players coming in, we haven't played much yet, but we will see what happens," said Essien, one of only a handful of Chelsea players in their mid-20s.
"For me, we don't really think about our opponents. They are also working really hard but it is up to us to work really hard also.
"I think we have got a lot of the best players in the world and that is going to help us. But we are going to have to work hard as it's not going to be easy.
"To train and play with players like Deco, Lampard and Ballack helps you improve a lot. They are world-class players and it is a privilege to train with them and play with them everyday.
"We have quality players but it is still going to be a very difficult season. Deco, Ballack and Lampard are world-class players and you can see that in training and during the games. They can always change a game. They have their own style of play and help the team a lot.
"We have a winning mentality, they are bad losers like me. It happens but I don't like to lose."
Essien also refuses to accept that it is solely United who can stop them next term.
He said: "Manchester United are not only Chelsea's main rivals next season.
"You have Arsenal and Liverpool and a lot of clubs who are signing a lot of good players.
"It is going to be difficult but we are going to go out and play our best.
"But for me it will only be Chelsea - Chelsea will win the title this year."
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Comment 1 - 3 of 3
Chelsea to win the league come may 2009. Big phil is very experienced and he has highly skilled and very determined players with winning mentalities at his disposal.
Man utd better watch it because they relied on Cristiano Ronaldo to get them off the hook very often last season and may find themselves in a spot of bother this time around if he eventually leaves for Real Madrid!
chelsea will finish behind manchester united dis season
do u want to bet on dat
manchester united too good for chelsea
chelsea will finish 3rd dis season
dey ve an old squad
arsenal is definitely out of the question, tottenham will cause more damage
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