Chelsea Season Prediction: Mourinho Factor Not Enough To Usurp Manchester Clubs

Last season

Premier League: 3rd

Champions League: Group Stages (Eventual Europa League champions)

FA Cup: Semi-finals

League Cup: Semi-finals

Top scorer: Fernando Torres (23)

Summer work

The season ended on a mixed note for Chelsea with the Europa League success and Champions League football assured for next season, but as Jose Mourinho came into the fold there was clearly much work to be done for the club hoping to return to Champions League and title glory. A long drawn-out chase for Andre Schurrle eventually came up successfully for the club, with the promising German forward adding to the side's firepower. The signing of Mark Schwarzer to help build depth in the goalkeeping department was slightly left of field by Mourinho but made sense, and long-sought after target Marco van Ginkel has been brought in to become part of the next generation of stars.

A pursuit of Wayne Rooney has been well publicised, and in the coming weeks Chelsea will no doubt pile the pressure on Manchester United to sell one of their top-billing stars as deadline day approaches.

Manager - Jose Mourinho

More talked about than any summer transfer target this summer, Mourinho's return to Chelsea was long overdue and seemed destined to happen, and when he made his move from Real Madrid to Stamford Bridge English journalists treated the manager with the highest adoration as he got to work. But the risks of taking on Mourinho will quickly come to light as the season starts; will Roman Abramovich finally give a manager patience to create a team with long-term success in mind? Will Mourinho repair his reputation which in Spain at least, has been left in tatters after a turbulent time at Madrid? The first season back in charge of Chelsea for the Portuguese tactician will be a big story no matter which direction it takes, and while some are predicting disaster others believe he is very capable of taking top spot over two Manchester clubs going through important transition periods with their own incoming managers.

Key Player - Juan Mata

A serious contender for Player of the Season in the 2012-13 campaign - although he didn't receive as much publicity as the likes of Robin van Persie, Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez - 20 goals and 28 assists made Mata a central character in the success that Chelsea enjoyed and he should continue to provide consistency under Jose Mourinho as well. Goals were a department in which Chelsea lacked somewhat over last season, and while Fernando Torres finished the campaign as the club's top scorer, he still lacked impact in the big matches. With Mata continuing to provide a strong presence in the attacking line-up, should Chelsea land Rooney they will have more options up front and the perfect feeder for the striker who had a disappointing season over 2012-13 with United.

Expectations

With every new Chelsea manager the ambitions are the same; win everything, and if you don't then you hope you aren't being shown the exit door by Abramovich at the end of the season. Mourinho will certainly be expected to bring home silverware this season, and at least reach the final of the Champions League or challenge for the title until the last game to boot.

Prediction

Chelsea have what it takes to challenge for the title, but over the course of the season they won't be enough to beat the Manchester clubs - yet. 3rd with at least one domestic Cup to their name.