Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has declared that his side are relishing the chance to face Chelsea next week.

United started their campaign in style with a 4-1 win at Swansea City yesterday, helping David Moyes enjoy a winning start to life in charge of the Red Devils.

Ferdinand thinks that Jose Mourinho's comments about United before the campaign have given his squad extra motivation, with the Blues boss declaring that United were not "terrific" champions last season.

He told The Mirror: "That was his first soundbite of the season, wasn't it? I think we expected it.

"I'm looking forward to Chelsea. We are really looking forward to it. Now we can start playing for something. We are professional people and want to win. You don't appreciate it when people don't put you in the position you should be.

"Being champions you warrant maybe a little bit more but every next person is tipping someone else to win the league and putting us in third or fourth place. It seemed people thought we should have come away with zero points and there would have been a lot of noise if we'd lost. The vibe all week was people wanted it. So it was nice to go there, especially in the gaffer's first real competitive game – and to win convincingly as we did."

Mourinho brings his Chelsea side to Old Trafford next Monday for the showpiece early-season clash, which is David Moyes's first home game as United manager.