He feels his Manchester United side, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will again be fighting it out at the top of the table in the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

Ferguson, who is preparing to face Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley tomorrow, said: "It is difficult for any side to break into the top four with the consistency and the quality of the teams.

"Over the last few years those teams have competed for the semi-finals and finals of European Cups. It is great consistency and a great level of performance.

"I think everyone in Europe recognises the league in England is strong, although some people are talking about Real Madrid and Barcelona starting to dominate again. I have my doubts about that."

City have raised the bar in the transfer market by buying Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry.

Ferguson added: "Ourselves, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal are looking at what is happening there with great interest in how it will pan out.

"You look at the money that has been spent - every week City are on the back pages.

"None of us have gone into the market in a big way. In fact we sold players. It has been really quiet with the big four."

Ferguson is convinced Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak are both capable of filling Edwin van der Sar's shoes during his enforced absence through injury.

That is why he has ruled out bringing in a more experienced goalkeeper, with the Dutchman expected to be sidelined for up to 10 weeks as his broken fingers heal.

Ferguson has yet to name his preferred choice against Chelsea, but insisted: "I have no interest in anyone else. I am definitely happy with what I have got.

"Strangely Ben Amos also broke a finger training with England's youth team, so he is out of the question but we can also call on Tom Heaton."

Ferguson would not be drawn on whether he would be naming a regular starter between the posts while Van der Sar recovers. Both Foster and Kuszczak played a half in the 2-0 victory against Valencia in midweek.

"It depends on performances really," he said. "If you have watched the games Ben and Tomasz have played, Tomasz has had more activity and therefore more saves to make. But I will speak to both of them about the situation.

"We have a selection dilemma as to who plays in goal on Sunday. It is not an easy one for me."

Ferguson will be without three key defenders against Chelsea and confirmed that Nemanja Vidic will miss the start of the season with a calf injury.

Wes Brown and Gary Neville are also unavailable.