Venables sticks with United

Venables believes five sides can win the title

BBC Sport Online's Stuart Roach talks to Terry Venables on the eve of the new Premiership season.

Terry Venables insists he will not be betting against Manchester United for this year's Premiership title.

The former England boss has backed a challenge from outside Manchester in recent years, but has had his fingers badly burned.

This time round, he is certain there can only be one winner.

"We have all been tempted to go against United in the past and have been wrong," he said.

"Once again, they are the team to catch. They have no soft centres."

Venables believes United have a winner in Veron

Venables believes the addition of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron will make United an irresistible force this season.

"Last season, players like Roy Keane insisted they needed more players and Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the squad on.

"United have bought two champions and what Ferguson has done is to remove the players' excuses.

"He can say to them, 'you wanted this and now you have got it, what are you going to do?'

"The players United have brought through the ranks are still hungry too. They have a determination to win and win.

United will be challenged by the four everyone is talking about, though it will be interesting to see how Ipswich do

  Terry Venables

"They won't ever relax. They want it again and again and that is what frightens everyone."

Venables is not throwing in any surprises when it comes to United's closest challengeers either.

He believes Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Leeds are the only four who can realistically run the champions close this time.

"United will be challenged by the four everyone is talking about, though it will be interesting to see how Ipswich do," Venables said.

"Leeds and Liverpool have pretty much kept with what they had last year, so they must be fairly happy.

Francis Jeffers is among Arsenal's summer signings

"Arsenal have signed four or five for £26m and Chelsea four for £33m so they are obviously a little anxious.

"As for Ipswich, the whole look of the club impresses me. That includes the relationship between the chairman and the manager, which is so important.

"They are the Rolls Royce of tractors," Venables joked.

But he had a warning for George Burley's side, following their superb charge into Europe last season.

"Expectation is their next trap," Venables said.

"They are expected to do better now, so the supporters come into play.

"They expect the club to do better but there is always another trap around the corner."

Venables is also backing his former club Middlesbrough to push for a Uefa Cup place next season.

Burley and Sheepshanks work well together

"Middlesbrough could surprise a few and I fancy them to challenge for a place in Europe.

"Obviously, I have got some alegiance with them after last season and I feel they could have a good year.

"They have an outstanding coach in Steve McClaren and they were sound defensively even before they added Gareth Southgate.

"Joseph Job and Carlos Marinelli are good players that people have not seen much of due to injury problems and they have also secured two very good signings from United in Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson.

"Tottenham will be interesting to watch and Glenn Hoddle has adopted a shrewd policy to ensure they compete immediately.

"Hoddle is an intelligent coach and knows he has to go for the players of today.

"Poyet is an excellent buy and Glenn has signed Sheringham and Ziege, players he knows will help make an immediate impact.

"They will score goals, but they may have problems at the back keeping them out."

Blackburn have some terrific young talent and look as though they are prepared to spend

  Terry Venables

Venables also predicted that survival will be the priority for the three teams promoted from Division One last season.

"For the promoted teams, their first intention is to try and get another year in the Premier League.

"If they achieve that, then they will have something to look at for the future.

"The Premiership is the prize of prizes and the promoted clubs need to ensure they are fighting to stay in there.

"Blackburn have some terrific young talent - the likes of Jansen and Duff - and look as though they are prepared to spend.

"Fulham are also exciting but they are now going into the unknown and the promoted three are the first three you look at in terms of survival."