Almost like heavyweight boxers tentatively testing their opponent in the early rounds of a title fight, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Sir Alex Ferguson have exchanged sparring tactics in an effort to unsettle their opponent.

It began a day or two back when Sir Alex said that Luiz’s Chelsea was too old a side to mount a serious challenge and his biggest threat could come from either Liverpool or Arsenal.

Scolari has refused to be drawn into the “war of words” except by saying that he has a proven track record and according to him he had a good blend of both youth and experience.