Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (left) gestures as Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the FA Community Shield match.
DPA/London
The Premier League kicks off this weekend with defending champions Chelsea the bookmakers’ favourites to stay ahead of the chasing pack.
The Blues went wire to wire last season, clinching the title with three games to spare.
But challengers Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all strengthened their squads and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken notice. “It was always difficult to win matches in England and now it’s even more difficult,” he said. “The teams are going to be stronger.
“What others are doing will make a different Premier League. I welcome this mentality, this economic power, and this ambition. If the Premier League was difficult, it will be even more difficult now.”
Mourinho has made few changes to his squad with striker Radamel Falcao the biggest addition after his loan signing from Monaco. The Colombian spent last term on loan at Manchester United but failed to impress.
Though Chelsea lost the Community Shield season curtain-raiser 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday, defender Gary Cahill knows they will be ready when the games really count. “We’re confident, we have a good squad,” he said. “We’ll be strong but it’s a tough league and everyone else will be strong as well.”
Inconsistency cost Manchester City a chance to repeat as champions last season even though they had the league’s top scorer in Sergio Aguero.
The arrival of speedy winger Raheem Sterling from Liverpool, along with midfielder Fabian Delph from Aston Villa, will aid City’s bid for a third title in five seasons. “I hope we will have a good performance,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said. “Last year we were runners-up behind Chelsea and I hope this time we can win the title.
“It’s a very close Premier League with five or six important teams so it’s difficult to win it. But I am sure we will see Manchester City again fighting for the title.”
Change has been abundant at Manchester United as Louis van Gaal prepares for his second season.
The Dutchman has brought in five new players, including German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger, while seeing Robin van Persie and Nani depart.
The moves may not be done yet with goalkeeper David de Gea continually linked with Real Madrid.
United were fourth last season, up from seventh in David Moyes’ lone season in charge, and captain Wayne Rooney expects the improvement to continue.
“We’ve had new players come in, quality players, and we feel they can give us an extra gear to what we had last season,” he said. It’s exciting. I feel we have the right squad in terms of hoping to be successful this season.”
Arsenal may have won their second straight FA Cup last season but a poor start which left them 11 points behind Chelsea after eight games doomed them in the league.
Manager Arsene Wenger brought in goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea and hopes the win over the champions in the Community Shield propels his side.
“Confidence-wise it’s good, it’s positive, and it allows you to focus on your next game with belief,” he said. “It shows your players that they’re doing something right and apart from that, now the Premier League starts.
“We need to keep a high level of urgency to start well because last year we had that problem.”
Optimism is high at Liverpool, where seven new players have come in after a disappointing sixth-place finish last season.
“We will be stronger with the new players that we have got,” Jordan Henderson, who replaces the departed Steven Gerrard as captain, said. “We are a young team but we have brought in quality.
“I think the quality we have added will make a big difference.”
Among the promoted sides it is Bournemouth who are likely to draw the most attention. The Cherries won the Championship last season to earn their first-ever place in the Premier League.
It capped a remarkable run which saw them fight off bankruptcy to rise up from the fourth tier in just six years and manager Eddie Howe is fully aware what awaits his squad.
“It’s not rocket science, we won’t be able to compete (in the transfer market) with the top clubs, but when you put 11 players on the pitch, it’s not about money, it’s about footballers trying to play the game,” he said.
