Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea paid over the odds for former Barcelona midfielder Deco.

"We were not going to get involved in that type of value but he is a nice footballer," said Ferguson.

"He is diminutive and clever. He does not have the same athleticism as Michael Essien but it does not make them any less as a team.

"I certainly did not say they were an old team.

"I said they were an experienced team. When players get to their 30s, you do not get a lot of improvement out of them.

"But they have certainly started well enough. They have only dropped two points."