Ferguson has spent $125million since his side wrested the Premier League title back from Chelsea last term, with Carlos Tevez finally joining Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves.

Coppell, whose season begins at Old Trafford on Sunday, insisted he could have been a big summer spender as well - but deliberately chose not to.

He said: "If I were to bring one in at $50million - which if I went on bended knee to the chairman we could do - and somebody comes in earning five times as much as everyone else, then our very chemistry is destroyed so I just wouldn't do that.

"We are what we are and don't profess to be something else. It's only 11 versus 11 come kick-off and I want 11 who are desperate to prove they are the equals or superiors to the opposition.

"We have got to have that 'I'm going to show them' mentality - the same mentality as we had last year.

"It's very important for a team like us still to have the promoted mentality, which I hope is still within us."

Reading lost narrowly at Old Trafford in the league last year and then went on to draw an FA Cup tie there.

Both sides used squad players for the cup tie and Coppell was hoping Ferguson might do the same on Sunday.

He said: "It is a big season for Fergie and the expectation will be there to repeat last season's success in the league and also do better in the cups.

"So maybe he will be looking at his first three fixtures and wondering whether to spread his load by tinkering with the team. That might be to our advantage, who knows?"

But Coppell admitted: "It doesn't matter how many people they've signed, they can only play 11, but unfortunately they've got a few more on the bench.

"We found on a number of occasions last year the quality of the bench players can be so great that the game can be significantly changed with the introduction of one, two or even three new players.

"You have to do a job on the first 11 and then be able to adjust and be prepared for anything else that might also come your way. We need all our players to be at the top of their game."

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is set to play despite having 16 bolts and a metal plate in the hand he broke on the final day of last season.

Striker Leroy Lita is sidelined by the hip injury he suffered getting out of bed earlier in the week so Coppell could be tempted to play Dave Kitson on his own up front and employ Kevin Doyle on the right flank.

Record signing Emerse Fae is not yet in contention but fellow newcomer Kalifa Cisse stands by for a debut.