Chelsea may not be title threat, says Giggs

Ryan Giggs today warned Chelsea they will struggle to gel as a team this season.

The Manchester United winger knows what is required to win the Premiership better than most, having collected eight championship medals in past 11 seasons, and is convinced the title will elude the league's biggest spenders.

Giggs has been impressed with the quality of Claudio Ranieri's summer signings but said: "With Chelsea you don't know what you are going to get. They have so much quality but they have all got to gel, whereas Arsenal and ourselves have got the nucleus of teams that we have had for the last three or four years, which is always important.

"It does make a difference when you have won a title - you know what it takes, you have got to scrape points here and there.

"It can take a couple of years for a team to gel but, if you have still got the nucleus - and Chelsea have the backbone of the team with Lampard, Terry, Desailly and Cudicini, who is excellent - you can improve."

Giggs is confident United will retain their title and thinks the biggest challenge will come from Arsenal, particularly given the way they lost the Premiership last season.

He said: "I think there is a challenge for Arsenal this season. When you do lose a title, especially with the lead they had and with the football they were playing earlier in the season-they probably felt they deserved it."

United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday. Roy Keane is expected to play before having an ankle operation that will keep him out for six weeks.

Giggs added: "We're looking forward to it, big games bring out the best in you - that's when big players come out and do their stuff.

"The last two or three games with Arsenal have been quite feisty and that is to be expected again on Sunday."