Formed: 1905 Manager: Jose Mourinho Stadium: Stamford Bridge Capacity: 41,837 Years in Premier League: 23 Last 3 seasons: 2014-15: 1st 2013-14: 3rd 2012-13: 3rd Best finish: 1st (2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15) Opening day fixture: Swansea City (H), Aug 8 Last day fixture: Leicester City (H), May 15
This season’s aim:
The reigning Premier League champions will be looking to pull off back-to-back domestic league titles for the first time since their record-breaking 2004-05 and 2005-06 championships. The Blues will be widely tipped to retain their trophy this season, despite the champions holding back during the summer transfer window, with Jose Mourinho maintaining and re-inheriting a title-winning squad. Following the exit of Petr Cech, new arrival Asmir Begovic will continue to keep number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on his toes, meanwhile PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard is once again Chelsea’s main man from midfield. Boss Mourinho will also be hoping star striker Diego Costa can stay injury-free throughout the campaign as the Blues continue to target their second UEFA Champions League triumph.
Transfers in:
Nathan (Atletico Paranaense), Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Danilo Pantic (Partizan Belgrade)
Transfers out:
Christian Atsu (Bournemouth), Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact), Gael Kakuta (Sevilla), Petr Cech (Arsenal), Mario Pasalic (Monaco), Josh McEachran (Brentford), Izzy Brown (Vitesse Arnhem), Lewis Baker (Vitesse Arnhem), Marco van Ginkel (Stoke City), Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough), Patrick Bamford (Crystal Palace), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Danilo Pantic (Vitesse Arnhem), Dominic Solanke (Vitesse Arnhem), Mohamed Salah (AS Roma)
Star Player: Eden Hazard
The Belgian wing wizard scored 19 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season as the Blues lifted their fourth Premier League title and their fifth League Cup. Coupled with Diego Costa’s 20 goals last term, Hazard’s displays helped Jose Mourinho’s side fight on all fronts for European and English silverware. With the Premier League title race set to be much closer this campaign, Chelsea fans will be hoping Hazard can replicate some of the world class displays he produced last season that won him the PFA’s 2015 Player of the Year award.
Shoot’s Chelsea blogger: Benjamin Wills
Blogger’s view: “Expectations on Chelsea this campaign will be nothing less than the regaining their title after crusing to their first Premier League success in five years last term. Player of the Year Eden Hazard will be in for another scintillating season as he tries to stake his claim to be considered one of the best players in the world as well as England. The real goal for the Blues this season is to make more of an impact in the Champions League after only making the round of 16 in 2014-15, losing to PSG. They need to compete on all fronts to be considered true greats.”
Blogger’s key man: Eden Hazard
Shoot Says: Champions