United crept past the Blues in the Barclays Premier League title race and needed penalties to dispatch their domestic rivals in their titanic Champions League Final showdown.

Terry believes Ferguson's recent spate of mind games has been driven by Chelsea's ability to keep pace to the finishing line during a season blighted by injury and internal conflict.

And while Terry insists Chelsea can only grow stronger he is adamant United - including their 42-goal hero Cristiano Ronaldo - are unable to rescale the heights of their remarkable double.

"I think Sir Alex realises we weren't too far away from United when they were at the very top of their game," said the Blues skipper.

"I don't think United have another level to go to. They had a lot of players in their team who have been at the peak of their form for the last two years.

"Rio Ferdinand has been awesome for the last two years and Cristiano Ronaldo was unbelievable - I don't think you'll see that again.

"Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs - they have all been fantastic. With the injuries we've had, as players we can all raise the bar a little bit.

"With it being that close in the Premier League and Champions League, they know we'll give them a big run for their money.

"I think we can close the gap because Man Utd were at the very top of their game last season.

"I'm taking nothing away from them because they've been unbelievable over the past two years.

"But we've been very close to them and we had injuries and a change of manager."

Terry bristled at highlight footage of United lifting the trophy at today's Premier League launch in central London and later admitted it still hurts to see their celebrations.

But the England centre-back is eager to draw a line under last season as Chelsea concentrate their resources on reclaiming the title they last held in 2006.

"Seeing United win the trophy was frustrating," Terry explained.

"It doesn't get any easier seeing them lift the trophy that we made ours when Jose Mourinho first took over.

"We want it back and that's what we aiming for. We have to move on from last year.

"We were the nearly team last year - almost won the Carling Cup, almost won the Champions League, almost won the Premier League.

"We were very close, but at the end of the day we weren't good enough and we need to raise the bar.

"We must set ourselves big targets to win the Premier League, to win the FA Cup, to get back to the final of the Champions League and win it.

"That's the target for the whole Chelsea team and fans."

Chelsea are continuing their pursuit of Real Madrid forward Robinho while the futures of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard appear to lie at Stamford Bridge for the time being.

"Frank's not going anywhere and Didier is the same. Over the summer it's been 'they could move here, they could move there'," Terry added.

"I think they know they are now at Chelsea and we've got to make it happen this year.

"Hopefully thinks can get resolved with Frank and Didier, I certainly hope the contracts can get sorted out.

"We certainly hope so because Frank's been our best player for the last four or five years - no doubt about that - and obviously we want to keep him."