Things are looking good for Jose Mourinho
Ahead of Monday night's game at Burnley, Alex Johnson looks at Chelsea and why they might just be ready to win it all this season.
Jose Mourinho delivered a master class in talking down Chelsea's chances of Premier League glory last season.
The Portuguese, so often brazen to the point of arrogance, was determined that his side be considered the underdogs.
A victory at eventual champions Manchester City in February that closed Chelsea to within two points of then leaders Arsenal prompted the Stamford Bridge boss only to outline his team's limitations for the battle.
"The title race is between two horses and a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump," he said after inflicting City's only league defeat at the Etihad.
In the end - as he so often is - Mourinho was proved correct.
Costly defeats at Aston Villa and then Crystal Palace wounded the Blues fatally and they trailed home four points adrift of City.
In that same press conference following the Etihad win, Mourinho gave the nugget of information that is worth bearing in mind ahead of the new campaign.
"Maybe next season we can race."
The little horse is ready for the grand stage. Holding the racing theme, Chelsea are in position to improve past those that outshone them last season.
Problem Solving
Mourinho has efficiently gone about addressing the problems that plagued his side last time around.
The best defence in the league, Chelsea routinely returned blanks at the other end - failing to score in eight games.
Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have been secured to arrest this failing.
The former Arsenal skipper will bring craft but it is Costa that ought to make the telling difference.
The 25-year-old is the identikit Mourinho/Chelsea front man.
Blessed with physical presence and aerial ability to dominate most centre backs, the Spanish international is no slouch with the ball at his feet.
Costa possesses the attributes to bludgeon most Premier League defences into submission.
Of course, he must adapt to English football and therein remains an imponderable - but it will come as a huge surprise to see him toiling.
The Spine
The successful Mourinho team is built upon a rock-solid spine.
Going into the new season, he once more looks to have assembled the pieces of that jigsaw.
Keeping a little bit of the old, in more ways than one, and sprinkling the new, Chelsea now have a robust core to form their title bid on.
Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois is ready, willing and very able to take Petr Cech's gloves if afforded the opportunity. Both men stand out among their Premier League peers.
John Terry's resurgence last season was a significant bonus while Fabregas and Costa add the touch of class for the final third.
The re-signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica last January could come to prove as important as either big-name summer signing.
The Serb is a much improved player on the makeweight that helped bring David Luiz to London three years ago.
Mourinho's horse now looks every inch a thoroughbred and can confidently be expected to pass the post in first place next May.
Market Rivals
As any Meerkat worth his salt will testify, the Premier League is never as 'simples' as it seems in these heady days of August.
Chelsea will face stern examination before they can claim any title, and leading the pack are the defending champions Manchester City.
Manuel Pellegrini's team were far from faultless in regaining their crown last time, requiring a large favour from Chelsea as irony would have it.
City's squad runs deeper than any other. The champions could field two competent teams at this level.
In skipper Vincent Kompany they boast the best defender in the league.
The 32m paid to Porto for Eliaquim Mangala might just have secured a player that can be the Belgian's equal.
Their midfield is an array of talent capable of breaking defences at will in many different ways.
The surgical incisions of David Silva and Samir Nasri are complimented by the often blunt force of Yaya Toure's running.
On the wings, Jesus Navas and James Milner provide trickery and the ability to get to the end line.
Sergio Aguero committed his long term future to City this week, but doubts continue to surround his fitness.
The stop-start nature of his recent past means he has yet to boast the form of his first season in England.
Stefan Jovetic is being touted for a more significant contribution this time around, with his injury-ravaged first season now behind him.
Doubtless City have the talent to join Chelsea and Manchester United as the only sides to record consecutive title wins in the Premier League era. The Stamford Bridge residents will do most to prevent their entry to that exclusive club.
Contenders
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United will also see themselves as genuine title contenders.
Given how close they came in May, Liverpool could be forgiven for starting this season still in a bit of a tailspin.
Few - did anyone - marked them down for title success a year ago but they came agonisingly close to their holy grail.
Boss Brendan Rodgers has admirably gone about the task of shoring up a defence that conceded more than 50 goals. Liverpool should improve on that stat.
How do you replace a man that scored 31 goals in only 33 games and provided a dozen assists.
The stats only scratch the surface of Liverpool's reliance on Luis Suarez. Replacing him is not just difficult, in the short term it looks impossible.
For that reason, the Anfield club must control expectations and remember that Rodgers is entering only the third year of a five-year plan to bring a title to Merseyside.
At Arsenal, the arrival of Alexis Sanchez should ensure Wenger's troops remain top of the 'easy on the eye' category.
Had they not lost Aaron Ramsey to injury, the Gunners could be starting out as champions.
The sale of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona has done little to convince that Arsenal's defence will stand up in the biggest tests.
A whopping 17 clean sheets last season - conceding only 11 goals at the Emirates in total - fails to mask the concession of 20 goals in visits to the four sides that made up the top five along with the Gunners.
For all their attacking talent, Arsenal still possess a soft centre.
At Old Trafford, Louis van Gaal will bring about improvement in the fortunes of United.
Unthinkable a year ago, but the Premier League aristocrats would likely settle for the top four right now.
Without European football, that is eminently achievable. The title will elude for now as they continue a period of transition.
Beating the Drop
At the other end, preservation is king.
Leicester, Burnley and QPR made the transition from the Championship.
The battles against teams in the bottom half will dictate the success or failure of the promoted trio.
The playoff winners QPR can outshine the rivals that finished above them last season. Harry Redknapp has enough quality and experience in his squad to steer Rangers towards mid-table.
Of the remaining duo, Leicester look better equipped and Burnley will surprise no one in making a swift return to the second tier.
If QPR and Leicester apply themselves well, some of the established order are likely to get pulled into a dogfight.
Paul Lambert's Aston Villa are a big club lacking in both quality and depth.
If they cannot attract some relief in this transfer window then Lambert and new assistant Roy Keane will surely be loitering near the foot of the table come January.
Sunderland's escape from relegation last season was as daring and brilliant as has been seen in many years.
Gus Poyet galvanised a poor team to recover from a seemingly lost position.
If they get themselves into a similar position, lightening will not strike twice.
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