United are looking to add a second consecutive Champions League crown to their three successive Barclays Premier League titles.

City, who finished 10th in the league, want to start closing the gap this summer and their Abu Dhabi owners are poised to fund a transfer spending spree.

Cook said: "People say our ambitions are too high but I don't see a problem with having the ambition to be the best in England and then Europe.

"It is about building a culture of success here - not one of survival.

"I want to be competing with United one day and I have no reason to think we won't be."

Cook is not expecting instant success but believes the club now have a solid base with manager Mark Hughes and is preparing for a busy summer.

He added: "Was it a great season? No it wasn't. Was is a good season? I think the second half was good and we laid those foundations I was talking about.

"Now we must work hard all summer to add strength to the club. It is the best time to do transfer business because January is hard.

"Summer is vital preparation time for the new season and unless you have that it impacts against your capabilities at the start of the season.

"For the first time in three years this club is going into the pre-season with the same people at the helm and we feel good about that."