Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini expects the Premier League to be as competitive as ever.
Pellegrini believes he has strengthened his squad with the arrivals of Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero. Further experience is temporarily available following the loan signing of England midfielder Frank Lampard.
But he also expects the opposition to be stronger and is expecting a powerful challenge from a number of sides.
He said: "I think this Premier League will be exactly the same as the last Premier League. We will have five or six teams with a very strong squad.
"All of them want to win the title, we also want to retain it. We will see during the year who works better.
"Last year we had a very good squad and a very successful year but that is the past, that is history.
"I think that important players arriving like Willy Caballero, Sagna, Mangala, Fernando, Frank Lampard will make us a strong squad."
