“This season we have three new players, maybe four. We should be better.”

Manchester United are winding up their preseason ahead of a new season.

Having completed the tour of America, a select XI will take part in a game with Marseille, some of the players appearing in Edwin van der Sar’s testimonial, Paul Scholes’ testimonial takes place on Friday and then the Community Shield against Man City will hopefully have United in the right shape to defend the Premier League title.

A victory over Barcelona wrapped up the American leg of our pre season but the loss back in May is something that still stings for United players due to the manner in which it occurred but captain Nemanja Vidic feels that we could be closing the gap,

‘If you look at the number of trophies we have won, then we are not so far away from them.

But if you look at the way they play the game, you have to say that they are above us.

But this season we have three new players, maybe four. We should be better.’

United lost a lot of experience this year but the youthful players we have brought in added to the quality and experience we still have will make for exciting times at the club. I think we can learn from the defeat in May and use that to place us in better stead not only if we come up against Barca again but also in the league and Europe in general.

And it can’t only be my inner muppet that got excited at the ‘maybe 4’ comment either!