TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OVER

Last updated : 02 August 2006 By Ed
Rio Ferdinand says that United's 'transitional' period is over and the clubmust be challenging Chelsea this season.

"We're determined to start the next season much better," he told Sky - The Magazine. "We have some fantastic young players coming through.

"The manager was talking about a transitional period at the start of last season and we're beginning to see the fruits of the hard work we put in throughout the year.

"Near the end of the season, we won 10 matches in a row and we finished on a high.

"Now we'll see where we can go this season.

"Chelsea are going to be up there or thereabouts for a long time with the quality they have. Last season, they were consistent again but had blips here and there.

"I think the future for United looks really bright. We've got a good nucleus of players who are certainly capable of being match-winners on their day and that bodes well for the future."