CHELSEA PREVIEW: The Special One's return makes Blues odds-on favourites for Premier League glory

Club at a glance

Manager: Jose Mourinho
Captain: John Terry
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Capacity: 41,837
Last season’s finish: 3rd
Official club website: chelseafc.com

Story of the summer…

Chelsea’s biggest signing of the close season was not a player but the return of the Special One. Jose Mourinho is back and with his arrival come Chelsea’s hopes of a serious tilt at the title. Andre Schurrle is a significant addition but it’s now Wayne Rooney or bust in terms of transfers.

Manager’s main challenge…

Building a new team without alienating his old guard. Mourinho has plenty of players left from his previous spell in charge but there are a lot of new faces - the self-appointed ‘Godfather’ of the Premier League will have to find a way to blend the two.

Key man: Jose Mourinho return means Chelsea have become favourites for the Premier League title

Hiccups on horizon…

If Rooney does not arrive, then goalscoring responsibility falls on youngster Romelu Lukaku and the inconsistent Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez helped the Spain striker improve slightly but Mourinho may not have the same patience. 

First name on the team sheet…

Petr Cech – Chelsea have an embarrassment of riches outfield but the Czech is still No 1.

No 1: Despite all the talent on the Chelsea pitch, Petr Cech remains the first name on the team sheet

Youngster to watch...

Bertrand Traore Age: 17 Position: Attacking midfielder Twitter: @Bertrand_traore

The imposing attacking midfielder from Burkina Faso is only 17 and on a student visa so not yet officially a Chelsea player. But he impressed on the club’s pre-season tour to the Far East, scoring twice, and Jose Mourinho is anxious to sign him up once 18 in September.

Pre-season quote…

‘I have to be an example for everybody in terms of conduct and support, to be there for everyone when they need me.’ - Jose Mourinho

Top Tweeter

Juan Mata (@juanmata10) -  Enthusiastic photographer. Bilingual tweeter.

Options: The arrival of Andre Schurrle will give Mourinho more options out wide and through the middle

Ins: Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen, £18m), Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem £9m), Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea, free), Cristian Cuevas (O'Higgins, £3m)

Outs: Jeffrey Bruma (PSV, £2.5m), Yossi Benayoun (released), Florent Malouda (released), Ross Turnbull (Doncaster, free), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, loan), Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, loan), Paulo Ferreira (retired), Cristian Cuevas (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Lucas Piazon (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Todd Kane (Blackburn, loan), Marko Marin (Sevilla, loan), Gael Kakuta (Vitesse, loan), Patrick Bamford (MK Dons, loan), Wallace (Inter Milan, loan)

New kit

After gold trim to mark the 2012 Champions League win, Chelsea have gone back to basics and resorted to a standard blue home strip with white trim for the new campaign.

Subtle changes also see the kit revert to a V-neck design, while the club crest which was blue and gold last term, goes back to its more common four-colour design.

For the away kit the club have gone for white with a simple blue and red line - unlike many kits these days, adidas haven't cluttered the strip with fancy details and 'special' touches, instead going for simplicity. 

Kit cost: £49.99

Simplicity: Chelsea have gone back to basics for both their home and away kits

Stats from 2012-13 season...

• Chelsea attempted 15 shots on target in their 8-0 win over Aston Villa on December 23 2012 at Stamford Bridge – the most in a single Premier League game in 2012-13.
• Frank Lampard netted 15 goals in 2012-13 in the Premier League but only made one; his lowest ever haul of assists for Chelsea in a single season.
• Chelsea were awarded 11 penalties in 2012-13, the most of all teams. Indeed, only four teams in PL history have ever had more in a single campaign.
• Chelsea scored the most headed goals (16).
• They were credited with just three errors leading to goals in 2012-13, a league low.
• Although Gareth Bale was booked for simulation more often than any other player in 2012-13, Chelsea were the team to receive the most yellows for diving (six).
• Petr Cech had the best save percentage of any regular PL goalkeeper in 2012-13 (76.6 per cent).
• Chelsea had the best record at defending set pieces in 2012-13, conceding just eight goals in this manner.

Talent: Bertrand Traore put in some eye-catching displays on Chelsea's Asia tour

Where do I buy tickets and how much do they cost?

Tickets can be bought through the official website, via phone, 0871 984 1905 or at the stadium box office, which is open 9-5 Monday to Friday. Category AA £46-£64, Category A £46-£56 and Category B £46-£51.

Pre-season results

May 24 Manchester City (Busch Stadium, St Louis) - lost 3-4
May 25 Manchester City (Yankee Stadium, New York) - lost 3-5
July 17 Singha All-Stars (Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok - Singha 80th Anniversary Cup) - won 1-0
July 21 Malaysia XI (Kuala Lumpur - BNI Cup 2013) - won 4-1
July 25 BNI Indonesia All-Stars (Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium, Jakarta) - won 8-1
August 2 Inter Milan (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis - Guinness International Champions Cup) - won 2-0
August 4 AC Milan (MetLife Stadium, New York) - won 2-0
August 7 Real Madrid (Sun Life Stadium, Miami) - lost 0-2
August 10 AS Roma (RFK Stadium, Washington) - won 2-1

FULL PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

AUGUST

18: Hull City (h) - (Sky Sports, 4pm)

21: Aston Villa (h)

24: Manchester United (a)

SEPTEMBER

14: Everton (a) - (Sky Sports, 5.30pm)

21: Fulham (h) - (Sky Sports, 5.30pm)

28: Tottenham Hotspur (a)

OCTOBER

6: Norwich City (a) - (Sky Sports, 1.30pm)

19: Cardiff City (h)

27: Manchester City (h) - (Sky Sports, 1.30pm)

NOVEMBER

2: Newcastle United (a) - (BT Sport, 12.45pm)

9: West Bromwich Albion (h)

24: West Ham United (a) - (Sky Sports, 1.30pm)

30: Southampton (h)

DECEMBER

1: Sunderland (a) - (Sky Sports, 4pm)

7: Stoke City (a)

14: Crystal Palace (h)

21: Arsenal (a)

26: Swansea City (h)

28: Liverpool (h)

JANUARY

1: Southampton (a)

11: Hull City (a)

18: Manchester United (h)

29: West Ham United (h)

FEBRUARY

1: Manchester City (a)

8: Newcastle United (h)

11: West Bromwich Albion (a)

22: Everton (h)

MARCH

1: Fulham (a)

8: Tottenham Hotspur (h)

15: Aston Villa (a)

22: Arsenal (h)

29: Crystal Palace (a)

APRIL

5: Stoke City (h)

12:  Swansea City (a)

19: Sunderland (h)

26: Liverpool (a)

MAY

3: Norwich City (h)

11: Cardiff City (a)

*Fixtures subject to change