Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has admitted that rivals Manchester City deserved to win the Premier League last season.
City won the championship on the final day on goal difference, denying United the chance to clinch the title for the 20th time in their history.
Scholes has now conceded that Roberto Mancini's side deservedly won the English top flight last campaign, but is confident that Sir Alex Ferguson's team will provide stiff competition in the upcoming season.
"City definitely raised the bar and the football they played for most of the season was fantastic," The Telegraph quotes him as saying.
"As much as I don't want to admit it, they were good to watch and probably played the best football, so from that aspect, they were the best team and deserved to win the league.
"We know we have to do better than we did last year. We have to become a better team next time, but it's always a motivating force when you lose the league. It's not nice when you see another team celebrating on the last day of the season and that picture stays with you."
United will begin their Premier League campaign with an away game against Everton on Monday, August 20.
Subhankar Mondal
