LONDON (AP):

THE MIND games have begun, even if the Premier League hasn't.

Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, taunted Chelsea counterpart Luiz Felipe Scolari yesterday, saying the Brazilian's aging squad will be unable to mount a serious title challenge this season.

"They are an experienced side," the 66-year-old Ferguson said. "I don't see outstanding progress coming from a team that's in their 30s. ... It's hard to see where there's going to be a big improvement with a team that's really very experienced already."

Latest tactical ruse

That could be just the latest tactical ruse to unsettle opponents that Ferguson has perfected in 22 seasons at United, and which he described in May as "little nibbles to keep minds alert".

Ferguson also said Scolari will struggle to emulate the achievements of José Mourinho, who guided Chelsea to back-to-back titles before a rift with owner Roman Abramovich led to his exit last September. And Mourinho's inexperienced successor, Avram Grant, finished runner-up behind Ferguson in last season's Premier League and Champions League and was fired.

Now it's the 59-year-old Scolari's turn, a Brazilian who won the 2002 World Cup with his native country but has never coached a European club.

"I'm not concerned about Chelsea," Ferguson said during United's tour of South Africa. "Avram Grant did a good job and Mourinho won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup final.

A challenge

"So there's no one who can improve on Mourinho's record really. It would have to go beyond Mourinho's performance to really worry us and that will be a challenge with the players they've got and the players they've added."

Scolari refused to be drawn into Ferguson's mind games after Chelsea beat Chinese club Guangzhou Pharmaceutical 4-0 yesterday in his first match in charge.

"I will not answer this question," Scolari said in Guangzhou. "I think I have a lot of experienced players and also some young boys in my team, but I feel we have experience for the Premier League or whatever league."

Midfielder Michael Essien also wasn't biting.

"We don't really think about our opponents," Essien said. "We have got a lot of the best players in the world and that is going to help us, but we are going to have to work hard as it's not going to be easy."

The 25-year-old Essien said Chelsea's experienced midfield - featuring 30-year-olds Deco, Scolari's first signing, and Frank Lampard, along with 31-year-old Michael Ballack - will be a bonus for the team.