Premier League Preview: Chelsea

Last Season: 3rd

Pre-Season Prediction: 1st - Intelligent summer signings should see the Blues claim their fourth Premier League title amid stiff competition.

Last season was something of a disappointment for Chelsea fans. Much was expected after the eagerly anticipated return of the Special One, but little was delivered as a team overflowing with creativity produced little excitement or flair throughout the season. The blame was placed on a well-documented lack of a prolific goalscorer but the reality is this Mourinho seemed uncomfortable with the team he had inherited. A long Champions League run did plenty to cover up what was otherwise a difficult season for Chelsea as Mourinho failed to live up to his legendary status.

Now heading towards the second season there is a renewed sense of optimism after a busy transfer window so far. The shock signing of Cesc Fabregas will replace the hole left by Frank Lampard whilst Ashley Cole has also been replaced by Luis Felipe. Joining Felipe from Atletico Madrid and potentially solving the striker problem is powerhouse Diego Costa although after a forgettable World Cup fans may have second doubts about the Brazil-turned-Spanish striker. Unquestionably though, the best piece of business was offloading wandering defender David Luiz for £50 million. After his shocking-at-best performances in the World Cup, PSG must be frantically searching for the receipt.

Chelsea is perhaps the one squad in the league that has depth in almost every position. Although Mourinho has never been favourable to youth, there are enough prospects to cover any major injury crisis with the likes of Kurt Zouma and Nathan Ake particularly exciting in central defence. Perhaps one more multi-functioning full-back could be required but any disappearance of the Chelsea ethos through the loss of Lampard and Cole will have been suitably replaced by the returning Didier Drogba.

Excitement has slowly been building as Blues fans have got to see their new stars in action over the summer although their first real test against Werder Bremen played out in an extremely disappointing 3-0 defeat. In a shocking turn of events, Mourinho was quick to blame the referee instead of his own team but the reality is that it was a lacklustre display from a team with creativity supposedly flowing through their veins. That said, both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are off the mark after pre-season fixtures including a rather tasty free-kick for the latter.

If Mourinho can inject a bit of excitement into his team and move away from the somewhat negative tactics he used last year then we could have our runaway champions. Notoriously strong at home, Chelsea will be a tough contingent for any team and their early transfer activity should ensure the squad is ready and united for the upcoming season. Don't be surprised to see another long Champions League stint as well.

Key Man: John Terry - The lone survivor of Chelsea's veteran English trio, responsibility for leading the team will be larger than ever for Terry this year. Approaching the twilight of his career, he still plays a hugely important part of the team and was unlucky not to make last seasons PFA Team of the Year after being arguably the best central-defender of the season. With a couple of young defenders breaching the wall into the first team, Terry will be vital in guiding and ensuring they get the very best out of their potential and ability. It may also be his last season in a Blues shirt so will want to go out with a bang.

One To Watch: Andre Schurrle - Often neglected as a member of the starting eleven but has proven his quality over the last year on both a national and international level. His success as an impact substitute for Germany at the World Cup will have reminded Chelsea fans just what a quality player they often have waiting in the wings. He will have a hard job breaking into the midfield three of Hazard, Oscar and Willian but will be looking to pounce should any of them have a lapse in form, bringing plenty of flair and dynamism to the team in the process.

Best Signing: Diego Costa - Question marks remain over how effective the powerful striker will be in the Premier League but on paper he is the final piece of the puzzle that was missing for Chelsea last season. Costa provides the team with a proven goalscorer, something missing since the departure of Didier Drogba. Whether they manage to get the best out of him remains to be seen but Costa is a striker with athleticism and an explosive variety and will be a handful for even the best of Premier League defences.

Sports Ladder (14th-20th April)

UP - Gareth Bale - How do you prove to an unconvinced fan base that you are good enough for your team? Well scoring an outstanding winner in a cup final will certainly go some way towards proving it. That is precisely what the Welsh wizard did this week, as he slaughtered Marc Bartra for pace, running from the half-way line to the goal in seven seconds before tucking underneath the Barcelona keeper to secure the Copa Del Rey for Real Madrid. Success for the Brit abroad.

UP - Jazz Carlin - An excellent week for Welsh swimmer Jazz Carlin who smashed her welsh record with a time of eight minutes 18.36 seconds in the 800 meters freestyle. As well as setting a new national record, Carlin also set the fastest time in the World this year in her discipline as she heads towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. With two medals already under her belt, the youngster will be looking to make it three this year.
 
UP - Crystal Palace - Go on then. Who honestly predicted that Palace would avoid relegation this year? Who thought they would be thirteen points clear of relegation with three games to go? Oh you did did you? Well then you're a liar. What an incredible job Tony Pulis has done since arriving at Selhurst Park. Not only has he steadied the ship but he has created a team that can get the ball down and play. With five victories on the bounce can they finish in the top half?
 
UP - Charlotte Dujardin - What a fantastic weekend the double Olympic champion has had. The equestrian star opened up with a record breaking Grand Prix victory on Saturday, beating her own previous record of 85.942% with a 87.129% riding on her horse Valegro. The Brit then followed this up with another victory in the World Cup freestyle with an exceptional 92.179% to claim her second gold medal of the weekend. Now that's a productive bank holiday.

UP - Liam Phillips - Another marvellous double victory but this time on a BMX instead of a horse, with Britain Liam Phillips sweeping up both the Supercross and the time trial at the season's first BMX World Series. Phillips continued from where he left off last year when he was crowned World Champion in New Zealand. It was a strong week for British riders in general as both Kyle Evans and Charlotte Green finished inside the top five as well.

DOWN - Pablo Larrazabal - I've seen some bizarre stories in my short lifetime but this really is up there. Poor Pablo Larrazabal had to leap into a lake in the second round of this weeks Malaysian Open after being attacked by a storm of hornets. The Spaniard described it as "the scariest moment of his career" and was only able to continue after injections and medical examinations which said he was in a fit state to carry on. Never has a golfer been so happy to be in the water hazard.

DOWN - Chelsea - Is that Mourinho's title challenge done? Not for definite, but this week could prove to be a major blow over the next few weeks. A 2-1 loss to Sunderland could be the final nail in the coffin for Chelsea's title challenge as Liverpool's eleven game winning run shows no signs of ending. And with an important mid week Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, could the season get even worse for the Special One?

DOWN - Daniel Ricciardo - A mixed week for Daniel Ricciardo. Disappointingly for him the appeal against his second place disqualification in Australia was declined so he will lose his maiden podium at his home Grand Prix. However, he did once again out-qualify his team mate Sebastien Vettel and also beat him in this weekends Chinese GP. This left the current world champion notably rattled. Has Ricciardo made a foolish enemy of his team mate?

DOWN - David Moyes - Is the Chosen One about to become the Fired One? Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Moyes' former club Everton at the weekend may well be the final straw as strong rumours circulated on Monday that the end is nigh for the Scotsman. With suggestions that dressing room confidence is low after reports of Danny Welbeck wanting out it looks like there is no way back now. Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement wish looks to be falling flat.

DOWN - Rafael Nadal - It was last year we began to talk about Roger Federer's possible retirement. Andy Murray decline has set in since his Wimbledon victory and now Rafael Nadal looks to be struggling. The dominance of the top four is well and truly splintered. Nadal failed to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final for the first time since 2004 and alongside his Australian Open final loss and also his Indian Wells defeat this year, could it be that another is about to fall in this tennis shake-up?

Sunderland Beat Wasteful Chelsea in Extra-Time

Sunderland produced a shock in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup as they battled to a 2-1 victory against Chelsea in extra-time.

Ki celebrates his extra-time winner

Chelsea were dominant throughout much of the game, taking the lead straight after the interval courtesy of a Lee Cattermole own-goal. However, Fabio Borini struck late to take Poyet's team to extra-time. The late goal gave Sunderland a second wind, and they dominated the second half of extra-time, scoring the eventual winner through Ki Sung-Yueng with only minutes remaining.

It was a quiet first half at the Stadium of Light as both teams failed to create any clear-cut chances. Chelsea were on top for large portions but lacked penetration in the final third whilst up the other end, Sunderland had a penalty shout correctly turned down for a handball against Azpilicueta, after a Dossena cross struck him on the armpit from only a matter of feet away.

The second half started in disaster for Sunderland as Cattermole scored an own goal just 40 seconds after the restart, referee Anthony Taylor having to refer to Hawk-Eye to confirm that the ball had indeed crossed the line. The ball was bundled over by Lampard and Cattermole together after an excellent ball from Azpilicueta on the right hand side.

Mannone claws at the Cattermole own-goal

Sunderland didn't look like responding as Eto'o turned a chance narrowly around the post before having a shot deflected into the side netting. Du Bruyne also had a shot beaten away by Mannone after Lampard knicked the ball from Larsson. Only moments later Lampard struck a shot narrowly over the bar as Chelsea piled on the pressure.

A break in play resulting from an Azpilicueta injury and a pitch invader sparked life into Sunderland, with Cattermole testing the Chelsea goalkeeper with a fierce drive from outside the box. Yet Chelsea remained on top with Shurrle having a shot well parried by Mannone and substitute Ba volleying narrowly wide.

With only two minutes of normal time remaining Sunderland made Chelsea pay for not converting their chances, as Fabio Borini pounced on a loose ball to equalise for the Black Cats. After Schwarzer took the ball away from Altidore in the box, Borini struck from a tight angle, leaving Mourinho furious on the
touchline.

Borini capitalises on the loose ball to equalise

Cahill prevented Borini from grabbing a second in stoppage time with a fantastic last ditch tackle after Giaccherini played him through on goal, forcing the game into extra time.

Luiz had a shot blocked on the line by Mannone and Borini mishit a volley wide of the far post as both teams looked to win it in extra-time. A dangerous Larsson free-kick had to be cleared twice by Chelsea as the free-kick and follow up from Ki both went close. The best save was still to come, as Schwarzer produced a fantastic diving save to prevent Ki from scoring a free header inside the box.

Sunderland's relentless pressure in extra-time paid off as they struck with two minutes to go for the second time in the match, this time for the winner. A cross from the right was brought down well by Borini before laying the ball off to Ki who finished well into the bottom left corner.

The win takes Sunderland through to the semi-finals of the tournament which they have never won. Poyet will now turn his attention to the must win game against Norwich as they seek to move out of the relegation zone. Mourinho will be furious with his team, who had numerous chances to finish the game off in normal time, but perhaps had one eye on this weekend's clash with league leaders Arsenal.

In the other Capital One quarter-final match, Manchester City overran a plucky Leicester City side 3-1 to progress to the semi-finals.

Premier League Preview: Chelsea

The return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge has seen Chelsea become the Bookmakers favourites for the title. The newly Christened 'Happy One', has a squad full of quality and will certainly be challenging for the title but with Manchester City purchasing big name players and Manchester United losing none of their title-winning team from last year it is by no means a one horse race.

Chelsea have strengthened their squad with plenty of youngsters, most notably Andre Shurrle from Bayer Leverkusen but it is their pending transfer of Wayne Rooney which will certainly catch the eye if it goes through. Despite having two bids rejected, it is thought that Rooney wants to leave Old Trafford and there is still the possibility that this deal could go through. If it does, I think it is hard to see Chelsea not winning the title this year.

Last year Chelsea's year was disturbed by the sacking of Di Matteo and their successful Europa League campaign. With Mourinho back and order seemingly restored after an extremely successful pre-season, Chelsea will definitely be challenging for the title, and with the right squad rotation and man management it seems hard to see them not winning it
.

Key Player: Juan Mata - The starlet of a creative midfield, Chelsea will once again be looking to their playmaker to dictate play as well as score goals. The clever Spaniard was sometimes overlooked by Rafael Benitez last season but is without a doubt Chelsea's best player and deserves to start regularly due to his quick feet and mental prowess.

One to Watch: Romelu Lukaku - A number of players to keep an eye on including Brazilian star Oscar and the return of Michael Essien but after a fantastic season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, Lukaku will now be looking to establish himself at Chelsea. With Torres and Ba both struggling for form Lukaku could easily force his way into the team and with a whole host of creative players behind him and his power and presense up front he could certainly maintain a regular starting role.

Best Summer Signing: Mark Schwarzer - A surprising choice for some but with Thibaut Courtois on loan for another season and Ross Turnbull's departure to Doncaster in the summer Chelsea were lacking in a quality second keeper. Now, should Petr Cech get injured at any point, Chelsea fans will be safe with the knowledge that Hilario will not be given the responsibility.

Last Season: 3rd

Pre-Season Prediction: 1st - Mourinho's Chelsea will gather momentum as the season progresses and edge out the two Manchester clubs for the title.