The English Premier League season is just a month old but it already looks like Chelsea are going to run away with the title.
The smile is back on the faces that matter at Stamford Bridge this season and their charismatic manager Jose Mourinho has already stated that his “little horses” from last season have now matured and are now ready to launch a sustained challenge on the Premier League.
It has been a while since Chelsea last won the league title, with the last three league titles in the top flight in England being shared by the Manchester clubs.
For a club which has spent millions in the past decade or so, such statistics are hardly acceptable – as many former Chelsea managers have found out.
While Chelsea have had to fall in line with UEFA’s financial fair play requirements, curb their overall spending and look to work on a sustainable business model, this summer is probably the most productive transfer window the club have had.
Players such as David Luiz and Romelu Lukaku left for astronomic offers, and non-performing stars such as Fernando Torres have also moved on on loan deals.
Chelsea have shown that they can be extremely good negotiators in terms of player sales as well. Numbers suggest that the club have made an estimated 150 million pounds from player sales this summer. They have reduced their wage bill hugely by culling unwanted players.
At the same time, the London club have bought quality players that the squad had been crying out for.
Diego Costa and Loic Remy fit the profile of Mourinho strikers who succeed at the Bridge. Costa in particular has the physicality as well as the speed and technique to become a Premier League star. He has been prolific for the Blues so far this season.
Chelsea have also brought in Felipe Luis from Atletico Madrid for the left back slot. However, Cesar Azpilicueta’s form in that position has so far kept the Brazilian on the bench. The move to keep Thibaut Courtois has also started to pay dividends, as the Belgian has pushed Petr Cech out of the first team with some brilliant work between the sticks.
However, Cesc Fabregas is probably the best bit of business that they have done this summer. While Fabregas was a shadow of the player he was at Arsenal during his time at Barcelona, it was largely due to the fact that he had almost constantly been played out of position in order to accommodate the likes of Xavi and Iniesta at the time. Mourinho has played Fabregas in a deeper role alongside Nemanja Matic, as well as in the hole behind the striker to great effect.
In his short time at his new club, Fabregas has already scored and provided some glorious assists for his teammates.
Things are certainly looking bright for Chelsea FC and their supporters can now expect a period of prolonged success under Mourinho, armed with some of the best players in the world.
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