Twin peaks: are Chelsea and Manchester United on the slide?

The Premier League season has not even started and already the two favourites to fight it out for the title are sniping at each other.

John Terry believes that Manchester United cannot replicate their Double-winning form from last season. “[Sir Alex] Ferguson realises we weren't too far away from them at the very top of their game,” he said. “I don't think they've got another level to go to. They've had a lot of players in their team who have hit the peak of their form in the last two years."

The Chelsea captain's comments are clearly in retaliation to Sir Alex Ferguson's suggestion last month that Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad is overloaded with 30-somethings who have reached their peak."It's hard to see where there's going to be a big improvement with a team that's really very experienced," he said. "Maybe [they've] plateaued in a way. How can they accelerate beyond what they've done up to now when you see the ages they've got?”

So who's correct and who's wasting precious oxygen with their barbs? Is Ferguson worried by a team that ran them close despite a catalogue of injuries? Can United maintain the standards they set last season? Even if both teams are on the slide, there still doesn't seem much hope for any other side to steal in and take the Premier League crown. So, who do think will win this battle of the heavyweights and why? Add your comments below.

Comments

[Josh]

" Even if both teams are on the slide, there still doesn't seem much hope for any other side to steal in and take the Premier League crown."

Oh, no. Because Arsenal weren't two points behind Chelsea and four points behind Utd last season.

[Carl Christensen]

Neither club is on the slide. They will both be battling it out for honours in May. They both have fabulous squads and pretty successful managers. If injuries, loss of form happens, they aren't short of money for replacements. My money is on Chelsea though.

[Matt Drewry]

Of the two, you'd have to say that United's team looks to have more long term potential through the likes of Nani, Anderson, Rooney, Tevez and the Brazilian twins. Ronaldo on top of that would just be a bonus. That's more of nucleus than what Chelsea have shown so far I feel. They might have the players in reserve, I haven't examined their whole squad, but the fact that these players weren't visible and blooded a little last season, means that THIS season at least, they won't have the effect of United's youngsters. But then we all know you'll never win anything with kids..

[Nasser Hussain]

The utter rubbish that fergie comes out with never ceases to amaze. A joke of a European Cup final was sealed by the behaviour of Drogba and the comedy act by Terry. So how then can Chelsea not be capable of challenging ? Terry, may have a point that Fergie's team is on the way down. They have peaked. However, great players like Scholes and Giggs are old now. Ronaldo will leave soon and fergie will be gone hopefully soon. I can see a return to a period of challenge by Arsenal and Liverpool, like the late 80's. Both us and Arsenal have a very good potential young 11. Look at the players.