DESPITE WHAT JOSE Mourinho said last season Chelsea were well and truly in the title race until the final few weeks of the season.
Defensively The Blues were second to none during the last campaign but lacked the firepower up front to see them to a fourth Premier League title. A number of signings so far this summer have without a doubt strengthened the squad but will they prove to be enough to take the title from Manchester City?
We certainly think that is the case and here are the five reasons why.
1. A significantly stronger strikeforce than last season
A lack of goals let Cheslea down throughout last season but that problem looks to have been rectified during the summer transfer window. The acquisition of the world’s most desirable striker, in Diego Costa, is a huge coup for Mourinho’s side. The Spaniard’s tally of 27 goals in 35 appearances for La Liga champions Atletico Madrid last season earned him the tag of one of the best strikers in the world, as well as a £32 million move to the London club. Although Costa’s form did not impress in the World Cup he is bound to fit into the Chelsea team a lot easier with assist specialists Eden Hazard and Oscar providing him with plenty of chances.
The return of Didier Drogba to Stamford Bridge could also prove to be a very adept move by Mourinho. Drogba was devastating in front of goal in his first spell at the club under Mourinho and, if used sparingly this season, could net a lot of goals. As a former Premier League and Champions League winner with Chelsea his experience will also play a pivotal part in the side.
2. Statement of intent in transfer window
To put Chelsea’s transfer window into context they have replaced David Luiz, Demba Ba and Romelu Lukaku with Diego Costa, Felipe Luis, Cesc Fabregas and Didier Drogba, and still made a profit of £5m. As well as the four signings mentioned, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to finally feature at the Bridge after spending the last three years at Atletico Madrid, as part of an extended loan deal. Courtois has proved his class in Spain and, at just 22 years of age, he is set to be a mainstay in the Chelsea team for a number of years.
With the Petr Cech departure rumours growing ever stronger it is vital for Chelsea to replace such an excellent goalkeeper with one of similar class, and Courtois looks to fit right into that bracket.
With Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United failing to make signings of such calibre Chelsea must surely be considered favourites for the title.
3. A watertight defence
Jose Mourinho is renowned for building teams based on a solid defence and his current side look to be no different. The class and experience of John Terry will prove vital alongside the younger Gary Cahill in the centre of the defence while versatile full-backs Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta could prove to be very important in the event of injuries to either of the centre-backs mentioned. With Courtois holding fort between the goalposts and Nemanja Matic breaking up the play in front of the defence Chelsea look like a side that will be very difficult to break down.
Chelsea conceded just 27 goals last season, 10 fewer than champions Manchester City, and with a strengthened defence for this season they could beat that record again.
4. Players with a point to prove after the World Cup
After going into the recent World Cup on the back of impressive seasons for Chelsea, Oscar and Eden Hazard proved to be a little disappointing during the tournament. After an excellent opening game of the tournament Oscar faded as the games went on and received a lot of criticism for his poor performances, albeit in a very poor Brazilian side.
Although Hazard had a better tournament than Oscar he didn’t look quite as impressive as he did during last season when his performances earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. Both of these players will be going into the new campaign looking to prove a point and, with strikers such as Drogba and Costa (another player who will be looking to prove a point after the World Cup) in the squad, they should rack up a lot of assists. Hazard will also look to improve on his goal tally of 17 from last season as Mourinho will most likely use him in the same inside left role.
5.The best manager in the world
‘The Speical One’ needs no introduction as his record speaks for itself at this stage. Having won three European Cups with three different clubs as well as league titles all around Europe second place is simply not an option for Mourinho, especially after least year’s third place finish.
It could be said that the 51-year-old himself has a point to prove after last season’s campaign. Such a situation suits the Portuguese coach perfectly as there is nothing he enjoys doing more than proving the media wrong. Chelsea have not won the title since completing the double under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010 and Mourinho will be under pressure from owner Roman Abramovich to deliver the trophy.