Malmo FF coach Age Hareide has been looking towards similar sized clubs in similar sized leagues and sees his side as ahead of Celtic, Rosenborg and FC Copenhagen.
The 61-year-old, who counts Rosenborg amongst his former clubs, led Malmo to the Swedish Allsvenskan title last season and is aiming to repeat the trick this year.
Already this term Malmo are leading the pack, having won four of their six league games so far, drawing the other two.
And Hareide is keen to compare his side with other clubs in similar sized leagues for a real measure of progress, picking Scottish champions Celtic and Norwegian giants Rosenborg as two of his reference points.
"We are better than Celtic, we are better than Rosenborg", he told Expressen.
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"In Norway, Molde might come close to us, but nevertheless we are better.
"We are better than FC Copenhagen", he added.
Hareide will have an opportunity to demonstrate Malmo's progress on the European stage later this year, when he again attempts to guide his side through to the Champions League group stage, repeating the feat of this season.
His men are next in action this evening against rivals Helsingborg.
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