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Manchester United

The so-called big four of United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have dominated proceedings for a long time but that was shattered last season when Tottenham broke into the Champions League places at the expense of Liverpool.

This season will be even more competitive as Manchester City have been spending like it is going out of fashion and anything other than a top four finish will be deemed a failure.

It means everyone is fighting for their lives and even though United are nailed on at 1/20 to finish in the Champions League, it looks like it will be tight and they may find themselves looking over their shoulders now and then.

Ferguson admits it will be tougher than ever following the emergence of City, who are 11/2 to win the title, while Everton and Aston Villa are also clubs who will be pushing all the way.

Gone are the times when a team only lost a maximum of four games when winning the title and Ferguson is well aware that no game is easy these days.

“Things definitely changed last season – it was a different league altogether compared to what we’d seen before,” said Ferguson. “The top four found it difficult and dropped points in games they wouldn’t have expected to.

“That’s an indication of the improvement made by other teams, and I think there’ll be a bit of a dogfight for the top four places this season.

“We all have to be aware of the threats from the likes of Villa, Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City – they’ll all be challenging to get into that top four.”

Chelsea are 13/8 favourites for the title but United showed at the weekend even without the addition of any new players they are the team that will run Carlo Ancelotti’s men all the way.

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Arjen Robben

The Spaniards dominated their semi-final against a very defensive Germany side and the Bayern Munich midfielder is determined his side will not suffer the same fate.

“We will defend from the front,” said Robben. “No-one here feels they are too special to get their hands dirty.

“I was surprised with how freely Germany let Spain play. We have to start pressing them earlier.”

Spain have dominated possession in their games so far in the tournament with players such as Xavi, Iniesta and Xabi Alonso controlling the pace of the game with their patient passing approach.

The key to a Dutch success could be down to the performance of the Oranje’s defensive midfielder Mark Van Bommel who has been key alongside Nigel De Jong in breaking down play and winning the ball in order to give it to Holland’s more creative players.

The Bayern midfielder came under criticism for a number of robust challenges in the semi-final against Uruguay, one which led to Holland’s first goal and was eventually shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away in the final moments.

However, Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk, who is also Van Bommel’s father-in-law says he sees no problem in the midfielder’s aggressive approach.

“I don’t agree with what people are saying,” said Van Marwijk. “The yellow card on Tuesday was his first in the entire competition. He has shown a lot of discipline in his play.”

Despite winning all of their six games so-far in the tournament, the Oranje have come under fire for shunning the traditional Dutch style of ‘total football’ in favour of a more pragmatic approach.

The total football philosophy was first employed by the Dutch side in 1974 who went on to lose 2-1 in the final to hosts West Germany. They went on to lose again in the final in 1978 and Robben says his side are happy to expense with his nation’s traditional flair in the favour of winning football (Robben 9/1 first goal scorer).

“I would much prefer to win a very ugly game than lose a beautiful one,” said Robben. “We can still play attractive football but we can always rely on our good organisation as well.

“If you are organised, you know one goal could be enough, which has been the case so far. The point is, we are in a World Cup final. From now on how you actually play no longer matters.

“Of course, the intent is there to play good football but the result is far more important.

“We have heard enough of talk about how our football is very nice. But it gets you nowhere. We want to achieve something.”

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Atletico Madrid

The two Champions League drop-outs go head to head at the Vicente Calderon later on Thursday night for the first of two legs which will decide who progresses to the final of the inaugural competition in Hamburg on Wednesday May 12.

Both Atletico (6/4 To Qualify) and the Reds (1/2) endured miserable campaigns at Europe’s top table earlier in the season and both have badly under-performed in their respective domestic leagues.

But all that will be forgotten at kick-off time with a place in the showpiece final against either Hamburg or Fulham up for grabs.

Flores, though, does not think his players will manage to complete the job before the Anfield re-match which he already thinks will be “uncomfortable” for a side currently languishing in 10th place in La Liga.

The former Valencia and Benfica coach said: “I don’t see any result possible that will give us peace of mind for the return at Anfield.

“Playing at Anfield is always uncomfortable, it doesn’t matter what result you get in the first leg. Liverpool are a team that are capable of bouncing back and having great games.”

Flores, 45, added: “The important thing for us will be the collective mindset that we have, as this competition always gives very close scorelines in the first leg.

“I don’t think that the tie, which is 50-50, will be decided at the Vicente Calderon. What I’m sure about is that we will have to play at a very high level.”

Liverpool were forced into a long trip overland because of the recent flying ban, a decision which did not please boss Rafa Benitez.

But the under-pressure Spaniard, who is without star striker Fernando Torres following knee surgery, must put the disruption behind him as he looks for his side to score what could be a crucial away goal.

Benitez admitted: “My dream is that on Thursday we can settle the tie, but I’m aware that the tie will be decided at Anfield.

“It’s going to be a very difficult and complicated tie. Both teams will play with caution but they will also try to score goals to win the game.”

Torres is joined on the sidelines by defenders Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua (both thigh), Martin Skrtel (foot) and Martin Kelly (knee) so centre-half Daniel Agger will continue as a makeshift left-back.

Forward Ryan Babel is available again in Europe after a one-match suspension for his sending off in the first leg in the last round of the competition.

Atletico will be without Argentina striker Sergio Aguero as he is forced to serve a ban.

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