Manchester United's Wayne Rooney Wary Of Manchester City, Chelsea & Liverpool

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney thinks that the major threat to the Red Devils' title ambitions this season will come from Liverpool and Chelsea, though he also feels that Manchester City may mount a credible challenge.

"Chelsea are a strong team and will definitely be up there," Rooney told Daily Star Sunday.

"I would put Liverpool in there, too, and they are maybe our two biggest rivals.

"Manchester City, though, have started the season really well.

"They have bought some really good players. I can't see a reason why they won't be challenging along with Arsenal."

Rooney is also eyeing European glory in the Champions League this season, and feels that a final against Liverpool would be more exciting than one against Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid.

"I don't know whether Real Madrid against us would be the dream final - probably Liverpool versus United would be better," he added.

"Madrid are playing brilliantly and with Ronaldo going there, it would be a nice game.

"But you'd rather two English clubs got there for English football - and also because of the rivalry between the two clubs.

"It would be a great occasion to play in."

And Rooney feels that the deparure of Ronaldo to Spain has actually improved the United team collectively with players better aware of their responsbilities.

"Any team Cristiano has played in would miss him and rightly so. He's the best player in the world," he added.

"But we are playing differently now because the team was based around him for the last couple of years.

"We are playing a more orthodox 4-4-2 now and everyone knows their positions and their jobs.

"I'm not sure whether I have now got more freedom on the pitch but I'm playing up front and enjoying that.

"Last season, I played a lot out wide and didn't enjoy it as much as up front."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK