Sir Alex Ferguson estimates Manchester United need an effort

Sir Alex Ferguson estimates Manchester United will not be able to lose more than three games next season if they are to reclaim their position as England's top dogs.

The Red Devils suffered their fifth defeat of the Premiership campaign - and their first at home in 12 months - when Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The victory extended the new champions' lead over United to an incredible 20 points, raising huge question marks over the ability of Ferguson's men to mount any kind of sustained title challenge next season.

Unlike the vast majority of Red Devils' fans, who headed for the exits early enough to leave their team to complete a customary post-season lap of honour to a two-thirds empty stadium, Ferguson is not suffering from any sense of inferiority to the Stamford Bridge outfit.

The Scot is convinced United are Chelsea's equal man for man . However, it has not gone unnoticed in the Old Trafford camp that after Arsenal's historic unbeaten campaign 12 months ago, Jose Mourinho's men will head into the final game at Newcastle having suffered just one defeat all season, against Manchester City in October.

Those combined efforts leave the United boss acknowledging that a repeat of the early trauma that saw his team collect just six points from their opening five games cannot be tolerated.

"Over the years Manchester United have become well known slow starters," he admitted.

"It has never particularly worried me because we have always seemed to have the capacity to come back strongly in the second half of a season, and, if necessary, catch our rivals.

"We always say it is a marathon not a sprint, but now I have to question that kind of thinking because Chelsea this season turned it into a sprint from start to finish.

"It is harder to win the league now. Maybe we are getting to a point where you cannot afford any more than three defeats in a season, which makes it a hell of a league.

"There is no doubt Chelsea have raised the bar. It is up to us to accept the challenge and do something about it."

Ferguson has not downplayed Chelsea's achievements this season. He refuses to join the army of critics who have condemned the London outfit for the amount of Roman Abramovich's cash which has been spent securing a first championship for 50 years.

Given the vast transfer budgets the United legend has enjoyed down the years, he is probably wise to steer such a route.

Nevertheless, he does wonder whether the good fortune he believes Chelsea enjoyed, similar to that United have benefited from in the past, can hold.

"You cannot dismiss Chelsea's points total and they deserve all the credit," he said.

"But sometimes, you do have a season when everything goes right, just as we did in 1999.

"Chelsea have had 16 1-0 wins this season and they have not conceded a penalty kick. It is a fantastic record, but can it happen again? Next season, who knows, it might be us who get the breaks they have had this year."

Looking back, he has already identified the opening day defeat at Stamford Bridge as the day when his side's championship challenge died.

Some may suggest it is a simplistic approach but there is little doubt United had no chance of pulling back the nine-point gap which opened up within those troublesome first five games.

One of the major reasons for the sluggish start was a cramped pre-season programme. Senior figures within the Red Devils squad were rushed to the United States with barely no training behind them .

This summer, nothing is being left to chance. With the exception of Gabriel Heinze and Tim Howard, who will be required for international competitions, the United squad will report back for pre-season training on June 27.

It gives them three weeks preparation before a couple of domestic friendlies and a four-match Asian tour. Next up is a crucial Champions League qualifier on August 10 and the start of the Premiership programme three days later.

"Some people might think, after putting so much effort into their game, Chelsea will pay for it next season. I doubt that," said Ferguson.

"I am determined we are going to be more physically ready to hit the ground running at the start of next season.

"We must be better prepared, not simply because we will be involved in an early qualifying match for the Champions League but because we don't want to be playing catch-up again in the league."

United will have to be at their best right from the start next season if they want to be in the mix in the final straight.

I think hes right, Chelsea might be even stonger next season so Utd will need to put more efforts into their games.

They should all be back in training in June!

8 weeks off, and to do what!

They train in the mornings and play maximum of 2wice per week!

They get paid so much money they shold be given the standad four weeks holiday!

I am a fan of football but the breaks go to the extreme!

Maybe Sir Alex will start a trend because none of the other clubs will want to be behind the red devils in fitness!

Champions League qualifiers come quite erly i believe!?

They need to improve. This year they just havent had that spark that weve seen in the past. If they lose more than 3 that is it ! They need to win as much as possible. I beleive they need a double over Chelsea and Liverpool to have any chance of winning the title though.