Last season’s Premier League and Champions League winning team will enter the new season feeling capable of achieving the feat once more. Despite the incessant rumours over the summer that star player Cristiano Ronaldo would be leaving for Real Madrid, Manager Alex Ferguson has managed to keep hold of him and also expects to add to the team before the end of the transfer window.

As far as transfer activity goes, United have been relatively quiet in comparison to recent seasons, but this is perhaps indicative of the Ferguson’s belief that is side is as strong, if not stronger than last year. In recent press conferences the United manager has indicated that he wants to add a striker to the squad and the rumours persist that a move for Tottenham Hotspurs striker Dimitar Berbatov will happen soon.

There has also been little activity around the exit door at Old Trafford. Sunderland have expressed an interest in defender Johnny Evans and striker Louis Saha but so far nothing has materialised. Youngster Danny Simpson has joined Blackburn on loan for the season and Chris Eagles has signed for Championship outfit Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

Perhaps the biggest change that has occurred at Manchester United this summer has been assistant manager Carlos Queiroz’s decision to leave to become the new coach of the Portuguese national team. At the time of writing Ferguson has not yet replaced him and perhaps his departure may have an effect on some areas of the team.

The United supporters will go into the new season feeling as confident as ever about winning trophies. The likes of Nani, Tevez and Anderson are all much more experienced than twelve months ago and the return of club captain Gary Neville after missing all of last season through injury will add to Ferguson’s options at the back.

Perhaps the biggest concern is the news that Ronaldo’s ankle injury will keep him sidelined until October. Rooney also has been hit with a virus in pre-season and is likely to miss the first few weeks. For all of United’s strength in depth, you have to feel that without those two players in the team United look considerable weaker.

The bookmakers have made United the odds on favourites to retain the Premier League this season and despite Ronaldo’s early season absence, there will be plenty of confidence from anyone connected to the club that they will be close to winning it again this year.