They are, however, the best backed side of the close season. Last season we didn’t lose a single game but we left the competition by the round of 16. Manchester United open the top-flight season in Saturday’s early fixture at home to Tottenham.
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Reporters in Spain have linked him with a £45m club record move for Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, but he has let a large number of players depart on loan, including Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson, Yaya Sanogo, Chuba Apkom, Isaac Hayden, Daniel Crowley and Jon Toral.
Put to him he has only two-and-a-half strikers due to the uncertainty surrounding Costa, Mourinho said: “The half when he plays is one and a half, so (that) compensates, because he’s a fantastic player“. Three seasons is now the maximum length of stay at any club during his managerial career. The demise of the lumbering target man has had an effect, I am sure, but I remain convinced the modern-day player can, and will, learn to deliver better service into the box. He makes up points.
Other than bringing in Asmir Begovic from Stoke to replace Petr Cech as second-choice goalkeeper, Mourinho’s only notable signing has been Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who failed to live up to his reputation at last season.
Last season Chelsea blew the doors off the league and stormed to a title-winning season before Arsene Wenger could raise the white flag of surrender.
Boasting a supremely talented squad and the unrivalled motivational skills of manager Jose Mourinho, there is little doubt champions Chelsea deservedly start their title defence as the bookmakers’ favourites to retain the crown. “I’m just speaking in general”, Chelsea boss Mourinho added. “You have a minimum of five title contenders and the other teams get stronger and stronger”.
Cardiff in the Championship are not considered one of the contenders for the title, however, at 8/1 I think they are a long priced outsider to win promotion back to the Premier League. If we stay at the same level as last season’s, it will cost us.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “We are very happy that Jose has committed four more years to the club”.
First, it’s important to remember that contrary to the popular expression sometimes the table does lie.
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“We need an end on the unfair and complex schemes for disabled fans to get tickets for matches, the lack of audio provision in stadia and the restrictions on guide dogs”. Their total of 83 goals was 31 more than Liverpool, which explains why Brendan Rodgers made forwards his priority and signed Christian Benteke from Aston Villa, Hoffenheim’s Brazil striker Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings from relegated Burnley.
