Chelsea reclaimed their place as a powerhouse of the transfer market in the off-season and will have every faith in claiming the Premier League this season.
What happened last season
It was a year of near misses for Chelsea. Round of 16 in the FA Cup, quarter-final in the League Cup, Champions League semi-finals and third place in the league, surprisingly finishing just four points from Manchester City.
Their exploits were made impressive by the fact they did so without a world-class (of the moment) striker.
Somehow, Jose Mourinho masqueraded last season as a rebuilding phase, designed to steady the ship following Rafa Benitez’s departure.
It was the playmakers who led the way, Eden Hazard and Oscar each comfortably shirking the fear of second-season syndrome and pulling the strings with ease.
The fleet-footed Belgian was undoubtedly the Blues’ best attacker, his 14 league goals a club high as he proved he is just as much a builder as he is an architect.
Of course, Mourinho was always going to grab his fair share of the headlines, but he did most of his talking on the pitch rather than the circus that we call a press conference.
Perhaps the two most significant wins came with a Mourinho master class in counterattacking football.
The first – a 1-0 win against Manchester City in February. It ended City’s 11-match winning streak at the Etihad and kept Chelsea well and truly in the title hunt.
Mourinho, well aware of City’s predatory instincts in front of goal, implored his men to bide their time and wait for the vital chance. It came in the first half as Branislav Ivanovic sent a pile driver into the net to seal all three points.
The same tactics were employed as Chelsea dashed Liverpool’s on hopes with a frustrating, yet immensely fruitful, display.
Although berated for setting up camp on their own goal line, Mourinho’s method warranted the madness and he again proved why he is among the world’s best managers.
What happened in the off-season
After underwhelming on the market 12 months ago (see: months of fruitless excitement over the “imminent” signing of Wayne Rooney), Chelsea returned to their roots with a transfer-style catharsis that would have Blues fans grinning gleefully at the new team poster.
You might’ve heard of Diego Costa. Cesc Fabregas, too. Oh, and then there was the return of the prodigal son – Didier Drogba. Throw in left-back Filipe Luis, who joins from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, and it seems Roman Abramovich helped Jose Mourinho hit every necessary nail on the head.
The departure of Ashley Cole meant the position of left-back was added to the wish list, alongside a new striker and deep-lying midfielder. Although they’ve lost plenty of first team experience in the form of Cole, Frank Lampard and David Luiz, in steps plenty of pedigree and Mourinho has the right tools at his disposal to challenge for the title.
The permanent departure of Romelu Lukaku, who had been touted as the next Drogba, and would have undoubtedly delivered, had some disgruntled, but Costa and Drogba (perhaps even the other Spanish striker, too) will be able to take the goal scoring burden off Chelsea’s midfielders.
It is an embarrassment of riches in the midfield – Oscar, Hazard, Matic, Fabregas, WIllian, Salah, Schurrle etc. – while the club’s future stars have again been put on ice at loan to clubs around Europe.
Why Chelsea fans should be excited about the 2014/15 season
For the romantics among you, it isn’t hard to find inspiration for the upcoming season. The man that delivered you a Champions League title two years ago back in blue is quite something.
The fact that Drogba will have his work cut out for him to break into the Chelsea fold only adds to the pleasure.
Even Chelsea’s second XI would be capable of challenging for the top four, such is the incredible depth at Stamford Bridge.
Despite having the league’s most shrewd defence in 2013/14, it was the presence in front of goal – they scored a whopping 31 goals less than Manchester City – that left Mourinho rueful. Now that the latter is fixed, Chelsea will have every confidence of making it title number five.
The main man that can carry Chelsea’s 2014/15 hopes
Plenty of eyes will be on star recruits Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, as is to be expected. But the man to lead Chelsea forward this season will once again be Eden Hazard.
With a poacher’s finish (not to mention the odd screamer) now added to his repertoire, the 23-year-old is only just getting started.
Verdict – title hopefuls
Chelsea were given a pass for going without silverware last season, but there will be no excuses not to add to the trophy cabinet in 2013/14.
With plenty of experience and quality right through the ranks, the Premier League will be priority number one. And, although the title race is already shaping up to be a tough one – with the two Manchester teams likely to be the main rivals – second place will be deemed as a failure.
They have the chance to get a head start, too, beginning with matches against newly-promoted sides Burnley and Leicester City in the first two weeks before a trip to Manchester City in September.
Chelsea side to compete in 2014/15
Goalkeeper: (1) Petr Cech, (23) Mark Schwarzer, (46) Jamal Blackman, (na) Thibaut Courtois.Defender: (27) Nathan Ake, (28) Azpilicueta, (24) Gary Cahill), (3) Filipe Luis, (2) Branislav Ivanovic, (26) John Terry, (5) Kurt Zouma.
Midfield: (47) Lewis Baker, (4) Cesc Fabregas, (10) Eden Hazard, (na) Marko Marin, (21) Nemanja Matic, (12) John Mikel, (11) Oscar, (7) Ramires, (17) Mohamad Salah, (16) Marco van Ginkel, (22) Willian.
Forwards: (19) Diego Costa, (15) Didier Drogba, (9) Fernando Torres, (na) Victor Moses, (14) Andre Schurrle.
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