Can Manchester City win the Premier Le eague? YES Wayne Bridge thinks they can break Big Four stranglehold: NO Sir Alex thinks City are still a long way off from the title.

WAYNE BRIDGE reckons Manchester City CAN break the Big Four's stranglehold on the Premier League.

The City left-back is expecting the club to improve on last season's 10th-place finish but says the team need to hit the ground running.

Bridge said: "It is definitely our aim to finish higher than we did last season. And then if you look further afield, the aim is the top four.

"We all believe we can do it because we have a strong team. This summer has been good because we have signed some excellent players so we all have high hopes.

"But I know it takes time for a team to gel.

"When I was at Chelsea, it was a similar situation. The team suddenly came into a bit of money and players started to join.

"It can take time for players to get to know each other and we are going to have to do that quickly if we want to achieve our aims."

City boss Mark Hughes (right) has spent just under pounds 100million this summer as he prepares the team for an assault on the top four.

But England defender Bridge believes the money at Hughes' disposal won't add any extra pressure. "Everyone talks about the money - but I can tell you as players, it is not something we are focusing on," added Bridge (above).

"We just want to play football and get as high as we can. Our target is the top four and I believe that is realistic. We have to be patient but it is good to have high ambitions.

"When you see players including Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure come to the club, it gives you a big lift. So yes, the top four is our aim, it would be nice." Wayne Bridge and Steve Sidwell are ambassadors for children's charity, Education for the Children Foundation. Log on at http://www.justgiving.com/eftc

SIR ALEX FERGUSON believes Manchester City do not have what it takes to break into the Premier League's big four.

City have spent pounds 200million under Mark Hughes - including pounds 100m this summer - in a bid to challenge for the title and emerge from the shadow of local rivals United.

Hughes has poached Carlos Tevez from United and plucked Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure from Arsenal to boost City's Champions League hopes.

But United boss Fergie thinks City and Hughes have their work cut out to dislodge one of United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal this season.

"City is where all the interest lies this season," said Fergie. "No question. They've taken us off the back pages and I'm quite happy about that.

"They've spent a lot of money and we're all thinking 'Where's it going to go, how will it work out?' "The only thing that really matters in the end is results on the football field. But I don't think there's a doubt about the top four, not in my mind.

"The top four are well-establisheand they have all the criteria to stay there. They have the experience, the quality, great stadia, good squads.

"So, for me, that top four will still be hard to beat. It's hard to get into the top four, although for a long, long time last season Aston Villa came close.

"I thought Villa were actually going to end up finishing third but it wasn't until late in the season, when they started getting injuries, that they slipped away.

"If they weren't operating with a far smaller squad than ourselves, Liverpool and Chelsea, then they may just have done it.

"So in that sense it can be done, because teams like City, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham all have history.

"That's the one thing they've got in their favour - history. And, generally, history migrates back to success at some point. So we'll see what happens.

"But you can throw a blanket over ourselves, Liverpool and Chelsea, so I think the title will be between the three of us. There's not a lot to choose between us."

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READY FOR TAKE-OFF? Robinho hopes to fire City towards the title