Chelsea: Jose Mourinho confirms Willian, Juan Cuadrado and Filipe Luis to miss start of title defence

Chelsea will be without three first-team squad members for the beginning of their title defence after Jose Mourinho claimed that Filipe Luis, Juan Cuadrado and Willian will all require a rest in the aftermath of the upcoming Copa America.

Following the culmination of the latest domestic campaign, the South American trio, representatives of Brazil and Colombia respectively, are all now scheduled to return to their native continent for the 2015 tournament which takes place in Chile between 11 June and 4 July.

With the European Championships beginning in June 2016, however, the next Premier League season is set to commence over a week earlier than usual with a start date of 8 August already confirmed.

Chelsea are currently in the southern hemisphere as part of a swift post-season tour that will see the English champions travel to Australia next for a match against A-League side Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on 2 June.

Speaking following his side's 1-0 friendly victory over the Thailand All-Stars that was secured thanks to an early goal from prolific youngster Dominic Solanke, Mourinho was eager to stress the importance of rest for his tired squad and confirmed Willian, Cuadrado and Filipe Luis will each be absent during the early stages next term.

"They need holidays. It's very important for them they have their proper rest," he said at a press conference as reported by Goal.

"They are at their limits of their physical and mental energy. In a couple of weeks they will have their month holiday to prepare for pre-season.

"The players in the Copa America will need a rest after that. Willian, Cuadrado and Filipe will not start the season with us, for sure."

Arsene Wenger has already pledged to offer Alexis Sanchez a similar post-Copa America break after a fantastic campaign that finished with the Chilean scoring a wonderful strike in Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup final rout of Aston Villa at Wembley.

Mourinho will have no such concerns over Oscar, however, with the attacking midfielder not included in Brazil coach Dunga's 23-man squad for the competition as a result of an injury sustained in training.

Club teammate Ramires was also not selected, but Liverpool's player of the season Phillipe Coutinho looks very likely to add to his six senior international caps after an impressive run of form at Anfield.

World Cup semi-finalists Brazil suffered a disappointing last-eight penalty defeat to Paraguay at the Copa America four years ago, and begin this year's event against Colombia in Santiago on 17 June.