The reigning Premier League champions will look to defend their title, as Chelsea and Jose Mourinho go for everything in the 2015-16 season.
[ MORE: All of PST’s season previews ]
Chelsea excelled last season, winning the PL title at a canter and if their star men can stay fit throughout this season then you can expect much of the same. The Blues have now won four Premier League titles in the last 10 seasons, five league titles in total, and after winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy in 2012, they will be looking to replicate that success this season.
The west London club have a local rivalry with second-tier Fulham, but the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and now Manchester City have become huge rivals.
Best possible XI:
—– Courtois —–
— Ivanovic — Cahill — Terry — Azpilicueta —
— Matic —– Fabregas —
—– Willian —- Oscar —- Hazard —-
—— Costa —–
Transfers In: Asmir Begovic ($12 million, Stoke City), Radamel Falcao (Season-long loan, AS Monaco) Danilo Pantic ($2 million, Partizan) Nathan ($7 million, Atletico Paranaense)
Transfers Out: Filipe Luis ($25 million, Atletico Madrid), Didier Drogba (Free, Montreal Impact), Petr Cech ($16 million, Arsenal)
Last season: Premier League champions, League Cup winners – A superb season from Mourinho’s side as the Blues won the PL by eight points and lost just three times throughout the campaign. Chelsea came under plenty of pressure in the second half of the season for their defensive tactics, but their experienced defense used all of their nous to record the most shutouts and concede the fewest goals, plus new signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa dazzled in their first season at Stamford Bridge. The only shock was crashing out of the UCL to Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
Star player: Eden Hazard - What more can we say about the little Belgian wizard? He won all of the accolades -- and rightly so -- at the end of a dazzling 2014-15 campaign. Hazard is still only 24, but he was the focal point of Chelsea’s creativity last season and despite being the most fouled player in the league, time and time again he dusted himself off and delivered the goods. He’s on his way to becoming a legend at Chelsea and in the PL with his goals, assists and strong desire to improve each and every game.
Coaches’ Corner: Mourinho has now won three Premier League titles in five full seasons with Chelsea, and “The Special One” really enjoyed the first trophies of his second spell in charge of the Blues last season. He is widely regarded as having the best technical brain in the game and the way he set his team up to frustrate top four opponents last season was sublime. He is a box-office manager who loves to get involved with the media, but at the end of the day he does one thing: he wins. And that is exactly what he is adored by Chelsea’s fans.
PST predicts: Title contenders for sure, and right now they look like the favorites as Mourinho has kept the squad together and added two key signings in Begovic and Falcao to cover their needs. With promising youngsters ready to step up from their academy and at least two top class players in every position, the squad is looking strong and Mourinho will want to win it all in 2015-16. Expect a strong charge in the UEFA Champions League, too.