DURBAN – Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side will go into the new Premier League season as favourites despite finishing as runners-up to Manchester City.Sir Alex explained that United have shown time and time again that they have the ability to bounce back from losing their Premier League crown, only once failing to immediately win back their crown after having it snatched from them.They were champions in 1995-96 after Blackburn Rovers had won the title, then claimed it back from Arsenal in 1998-99 and 2001-02 before taking it back from Chelsea in 2010-11. Only between 2003-06, when Arsenal and Chelsea (twice) won the title have United gone more than one season without winning the Premier League."People may say Manchester City are the team to beat but I don’t agree,’’ said Ferguson. "We are the team to beat because of the way we react and the way we have bounced back from losing the league in the past. We will be strong this season.’’Sir Alex has so far secured the services of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and Nick Powell from Crewe, with others including Leighton Baines, Luca Modric and Robin van Persie linked with a switch, but the boss refused to be moved on the matter simply saying: