Chelsea may have endured a relatively quiet summer transfer window by their standards this time around but if the truth be told, the Blues were only looking to add some finishing touches anyway.
The Blues boast one of the most solid units in regards to their playing staff at the moment and making unnecessary changes would upset the apple-cart when there would be no reason to tamper with it.
So far this summer, Jose Mourinho has brought both Radamel Falcao and Asmir Begovic to Stamford Bridge and while the pair will undoubtedly prove expensive bench warmers, Chelsea will again be battling on four fronts this season with the squad needing to be utilised to its maximum.
We have to admit, a few of our rival fans here in the tavern were laughing when Begovic conducted an interview this week in which he claimed he’s ready to rival Thibaut Courtois for the number one spot.
Barring a remarkable dip in form from Chelsea’s imperious Belgian stopper, we’re not expecting to see Begovic on many occasions this term with the Bosnian only likely to receive playing time in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup despite being a good stopper himself.
In the time that remains this transfer window, it’s hard to see who Chelsea will go after next, if anyone at all but a series of youngsters seem to be departing Stamford Bridge on loan again and it remains to be seen whether Patrick Bamford will be one of those or whether he’s finally merited a place in this first team for 2015/16.
Speaking of the first team, we’ve devised what we believe to be Chelsea’s strongest starting eleven heading into the new campaign.
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Click on the image below to reveal what we believe to be Chelsea’s strongest XI for this season.
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Thibaut Courtois
He’s ultimately the reason Petr Cech ended up leaving Stamford Bridge for Arsenal so if one of the best goalkeepers of all-time can’t usurp Courtois, we don’t know what Begovic has plans on doing!
Since performing admirably for Atletico Madrid over the course of a few seasons in Spain, Chelsea could no longer ignore the talents Courtois possesses at the start of last season.
Boasting a self assuredness that Manuel Neuer would be proud of, Courtois boasts that arrogance that he won’t be beat between the sticks and when you consider Chelsea’s back line rarely gives anything away, you can understand why all of the bus jibes are merited.
Branislav Ivanovic
Rarely putting a foot wrong, Branislav Ivanovic is the ultimate disciple of a Jose Mourinho team.
The Serb actually took a little while to get going at Stamford Bridge but after he built up a head of steam, he truly became one of the indispensable players in the Blues machine.
One of the first names down on Chelsea’s team-sheet, Ivanovic is a dream to manage with the player equally adept at right back or centre back but it’s the former position in which he thrives because he can raid down the right flank with his pace and bullish strength.
Gary Cahill
In a stat that our landlord told to our neutrals here in the tavern a little while back, it’s remarkable to think that Gary Cahill has now won all there is to win at club level with Chelsea.
Having only signed from Bolton Wanderers in 2012, the ex-Aston Villa man has now won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup.
A remarkable achievement for a player who may have previously thought that he’d never win a single honour in his career, let alone the whole lot!
Despite being a vital cog in the Blues squad in recent seasons, some Chelsea fans still crave another top centre back to usurp the England international, the likes of Raphael Varane at Real Madrid.
Despite these intentions, we still think that Cahill is most certainly underrated.
John Terry
What more can be said about the imperious 2014/15 season John Terry enjoyed that hasn’t been said already?
Like Ivanovic mentioned previously, Terry was Mr consistent last term, rubbing his performances right in the face of the likes of Rafael Benitez who wrote him off during his infamous spell at Stamford Bridge a few seasons back.
While Chelsea will need to source a replacement for him one day, there is no doubting that Terry looks as if he can go another two or three seasons at the moment with the former England international finding his best form on a week to week basis.
Full of grit and determination, nobody has fought for the Chelsea like John Terry has in recent times and in many ways, Terry is the on-field Jose Mourinho.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Having remained at the forefront of Jose Mourinho’s attention following his spell in the team under Rafael Benitez, Cesar Azpilicueta has got better and better in his Chelsea career.
The Spaniard has improved so much in a relatively short space of time that Ashley Cole was deemed surplus to requirements ahead of joining Roma last summer and in truth, the Blues aren’t missing the former England left back.
Like Ivanovic, Azpilicueta rarely gives much away and is also a threat going forward without overlooking his defensive duties.
Capable of playing at right back as well of course, Azpilicueta is one of the most underrated players in this Chelsea team and certainly an unsung hero.
Nemanja Matic
When you have most supporters referring to the defensive midfield role as the ‘Matic role’ nowadays, you know you’ve done something right.
Matic of course failed to make the grade in his first spell spent at Stamford Bridge but ever since returning to West London, the Serbian international hasn’t looked back and has looked a tower of power in the Blues’ midfield.
Like Claude Makelele before him, Matic is a master of the art in regards to fulfilling his defensive midfield duties admirably and the best thing about him is that he’s not interested in what’s happening going forward.
Simply intent on breaking up the play to free the attacking players in front of him, Matic is the ultimate team player and someone who most clubs are looking to find the new version of!
Cesc Fabregas
They used to hate him of course in his time spent at Arsenal but now, Cesc Fabregas is the darling of Stamford Bridge.
Lifting his first ever Premier League title last term, Fabregas is now a Blue in every sense and despite impressing everybody in the first half of last season, he knows he must sustain his best form for an entire campaign.
Now boasting his own ‘magic hat’ chant, expect Arsenal and Chelsea fixtures to take on another dimension this season following Petr Cech’s decision to sign for the Gunners this summer.
If Chelsea fans were in any doubt regarding the qualities Fabregas can offer prior to kicking a ball for the Blues last summer, these fears were immediately put to bed after that sumptuous assist to Andre Schurrle on the opening round of fixtures against Burnley last August.
Willian
Just like John Terry, Willian seems to be another Chelsea player who is almost the embodiment of Jose Mourinho out on the pitch.
A speed machine, Willian is able to get up and down the pitch to complete his attacking and defensive duties in equal measure and if the truth be told, the Brazilian might not have expected to be completing tracking back duties upon signing for the club.
However with Mourinho in charge, everybody must pull their weight and Willian does a fantastic job for Chelsea down the right flank.
Sometimes lamented for his final ball and lack of goals, Willian’s value to the team as a whole isn’t in question.
Oscar
Not at his brilliant best last season, Oscar will want to improve next term.
One of the players whose been brought into Stamford Bridge to revolutionise the way in which Chelsea play a more exciting brand of football, Oscar was at his very best in the away fixture to Swansea City last term.
A number 10 in every sense, one criticism of Oscar is that he should be scoring more than the eight goals he got last season but he is more than capable of bettering that total this time around.
A classy playmaker in every sense, the Brazilian international is difficult to stop when playing at the peak of his powers and you can understand why Juventus have been keen on acquiring him for some time.
Eden Hazard
Chelsea’s creative force, Eden Hazard is their marquee man amidst a team of superb professionals.
The 24-year-old is perhaps the best player in world football for his age and Chelsea fans are absolutely delighted that he is going nowhere at the moment.
Gaining the trust of Jose Mourinho with each passing week last term, Hazard is one of those players where the sky is truly the limit.
A speed machine who is often parallel with the floor when turning opposition defenders, Hazard is an absolute nightmare to defend against and when Chelsea penalties look soft, you can see afterwards that Hazard has been clipped on the instant replays due to his intricacy and trickery.
A fantastic talent who’ll continue to improve this season.
Diego Costa
Registering 20 Premier League goals in total last term, Diego Costa finally put Chelsea’s striker nightmares to bed following the terrible spells endured by the likes of fellow big names Mateja Kezman, Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres.
Costa was devastating at the beginning of 2014/15 and Chelsea fans absolutely adore their big bully of a forward who certainly doesn’t care about reputations in the game.
Boasting a spiky edge and that’s putting it mildly, there are times where Costa looks a red card waiting to happen but that is the player Blues fans have come to adore last season.