The Italian has added attacking midfielders Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar to his squad so far in the off-season for a combined fee of around 65 million pounds.

Chelsea will face City in the Community Shield on Sunday and Di Matteo predicted they would prove the team to beat as defending champions, with United not trailing far behind.

"(Manchester City) are last season's champions," Di Matteo said. "They'll be the team to beat, even though United were very close to them.

"Those two teams are probably a little bit ahead, but the champions we want to chase."

In addition to Sunday's pre-season curtain-raiser, Chelsea will compete in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup this season as a result of their FA Cup and Champions League victories.

Di Matteo recognised the opportunity to challenge for extra silverware but also that his team must improve their final English Premier League position after finishing sixth during the 2011/12 campaign.

"Our biggest aim, or our ambition, is to be able to be challenging at the right end of the season for the trophies that are still available," he said.

"We are going to be in a couple of competitions which are new to us, so they're an opportunity for the club and the players, but we certainly have to do better in the Premier League."

Chelsea adopted a largely defensive style as they secured European glory last season, but owner Roman Abramovich is said to admire Barcelona's possession-based game.

Di Matteo was certain that his side, aided by their new signings, would entertain Blues fans but warned that no team could truly replicate the football played by the Catalan club.

"Everybody would like to play like Barcelona, but there isn't another team in the world who play like them," he said.

"It's a culture, a way of life, a style they've produced through the club for many, many years. And there's only one Lionel Messi around."