Defoe and Giggs take aim at Premier League rivals

With the Premier League season just around the corner the phoney war has begun as old foes take pot shots at each other in an attempt to gain the upper hand before the action starts.

So far the managers have kept their counsel, but the players have been obliging the press with their willingness to offer opinions on their chances, and those of their rivals.

Take Spurs striker Jermain Defoe - he is looking forward to playing in the Champions League and has implied that European nights at White Hart Lane will be a good deal more exciting than those down the road at the Emirates Stadium.

Indeed, he was moved to boast to the Mirror: "If we can get past the play-off qualifier, I honestly think we will go further than Arsenal in the Champions League."

He then tried to sugar the pill by praising the Gunners, but ended up damning them some more. "No disrespect to Arsenal," he said. "They have a good record in the Champions League and for them it's become part of the furniture, part of their regular season - it's the norm. But I can't wait to experience the buzz around White Hart Lane on European nights, the place will be absolutely rocking.

"Tottenham fans have been waiting forever for a team to deliver Champions League football and we don't want to be one-hit wonders."

Up north, the old stager Ryan Giggs has been warming up for yet another campaign by taking a sly dig at Manchester United's main rivals - Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, by dismissing their title chances. Indeed Giggs believes it will be a two horse race between United and Chelsea.

"They [Chelsea] are the champions and they've been there and done it like us," he commented, before running the rule over the rest of the pack.

"Arsenal have got talented players, but they've not won the title for a number of years," he stated, before lumping Liverpool and City in with the likes of Spurs and Aston Villa.

Concentrating his fire on the light blue part of Manchester, Giggs pointed out that money can't buy success. "They showed last season that on their day they can beat anyone, but it was that consistency that they lacked. They've got the quality, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be in front," he opined.

Back in London, Chelsea's Frank Lampard added his assessment of City. "You feel that they are going to be a force eventually because of the money behind them, but how quickly they can do it and how successfully they can do it remains to be seen," he said.

It was left to a surprisingly articulate Wayne Rooney to point out that last season was one of the closest ever in every department and that this season could be just as tight.

"But I think it's a good thing that the Premier League is becoming more competitive," he said. "I'm a football fan as well and it was compelling viewing last season. All the battles – relegation, fourth and the title – pretty much went to the wire. As a fan, you can't ask for more than that.

"But as soon as a season is ended, you can't wait for the new one to start." ·