Jose Mourinho's belief that Chelsea
are better equipped to challenge for
the Premier League title faces an
immediate test when his side travel to
Burnley in their season opener on
Monday.
Last season Blues boss Mourinho maintained Chelsea
were not ready to launch a sustained title bid and he
was proved right when his players faltered in the
final stages and eventually finished third.
Key to Chelsea's failure was their inability to
overcome teams from the bottom half of the table,
with away defeats at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace
proving particularly costly.
The visit to Burnley will present a similar challenge
as Sean Dyche's fired-up side are determined to start
the new campaign in a positive manner after
unexpectedly securing automatic promotion from
the Championship last season.
Mourinho last year accused some of his players of
lacking character when confronted by the kind of test
Burnley will present.
But with his squad strengthened by the arrival of
Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and the return
of Didier Drogba, the manager is confident Chelsea
will prove more resilient this time around.
"My squad is very good, not perfect, but it's very
good," Mourinho said.
"The squad has experience, it has characters and
personalities, it has people with ambition. We
covered many positions. I'm very happy with the
squad."
Costa will make his competitive debut at the head of
Chelsea's attack following his £32 million arrival
from Atletico Madrid, while former Arsenal
midfielder Fabregas – back in England after a spell at
Barcelona – will slot into the midfield and be
expected to replace the attacking threat of the now
departed Frank Lampard.
Drogba is back at Stamford Bridge two years after
leaving following the club's 2012 Champions League
final triumph and Mourinho expects the Ivory Coast
forward to recover from an ankle problem in time to
make the trip.
"I think he can play Monday, I cannot say now yes for
sure, but normally I think he will," Mourinho said.
Mourinho must decide whether to keep faith with
Petr Cech, Chelsea's goalkeeper for the last 10 years,
or start with Thibaut Courtois, the Belgium
international who is back at the club after spending
the last three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid,
with Courtois favourite to get the nod.
Burnley have signed eight players during the close-
season to supplement their squad, but they remain
among the lowest spenders in the top-flight.
Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is their most expensive
signing at £1.5million from Middlesbrough – a stark
contrast to the huge sum spent on Costa by Chelsea.
"There will be a vast gap in resources available, that's
the reality of it," admitted Dyche.
"But look at what you've got, not what you've haven't.
We haven't got that, so there's no point moaning
about it.
"We have to focus on what we've got and use it
wisely."
Crucially, Burnley have managed to retain the
services of forward Danny Ings, 22, whose 21 league
goals last season were a key factor in their
promotion.
He is set to partner Jutkiewicz in attack with Sam
Vokes, who scored 20 times last season, a long-term
injury absentee.
Dyche has added experience to his squad in the form
of Matt Taylor from West Ham, Steven Reid from
West Bromwich Albion and Stephen Ward from
Wolves.
And the Clarets will hope they can repeat their shock
win over Manchester United in their opening home
game in the Premier League in 2009-10 –their last
stay in the top division.
"Never say never and wasn't it Cardiff who got the
three points off Man City early last season? I don't
think many would have been expecting that," added
Dyche.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon