Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson expects the English Premier League champions to be stronger for their title success when they launch the defence of their crown today.

United ended Chelsea's grip on the championship by winning the league for the first time in four years last season and Ferguson believes that experience will make them even better.

"What you want to see in a team now, after having won the league, is more authority, more consistency and continuity of their game," Ferguson told reporters.

"We expect the young players to improve a lot, like Rooney and Ronaldo. They will get better. We also expect a great deal more authority from players like Fletcher, O'Shea, Vidic and Evra.

"I think we have the right people to call on in terms of experience in the likes of Neville, Giggs and Scholes, Ferdinand and Van der Sar."

Ferguson is starting his 20th full season in charge of Old Trafford and is chasing an unprecedented 10th title success, a target he shares with evergreen winger Ryan Giggs.

Ferguson said: "It's a wonderful opportunity for Ryan to get 10 medals because it's hard to imagine it could be done again."

Chelsea will again start as United's main rivals but Ferguson does anticipate more of a challenge from Arsenal and Liverpool.

United's triumph last season was built on a flying start of 11 wins in their opening 13 games and Ferguson is looking for a similar impact, starting against Reading.

However, of Ferguson's summer signings, Owen Hargreaves looks the most likely to figure today.

Anderson and Nani are included in the squad but may not be ready to play, while newly-signed Argentine striker Carlos Tevez is not expected to make his debut before the Manchester derby next Sunday.

Gary Neville is still three weeks away from a return from an ankle injury and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha have only just returned to training.